The Politics of Sexuality: A Documentary and Reference Guide (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780313346842)

Since the landmark 1965 Supreme Court ruling Griswold v. Connecticut established a Constitutional right to privacy, the regulation of sexuality has become an extremely volatile area of American politics. From reproductive rights to sex education, pornography to gay marriage, the balance between community norms and individual autonomy has been fiercely contested. These and related subjects are often viewed in isolation, as though they were entirely separate issues. Yet as the documentary record makes clear, they are in fact closely interrelated, and their impact is cumulative. By addressing a broad array of topics at the intersection of sexuality and politics, this volume highlights the connections and makes an important contribution to a debate that touches every American.

Taking as a starting point the 1965 Griswold decision--sometimes said to have launched the sexual revolution--the approximately 100 primary source documents assembled here either mark watersheds in themselves or are representative of a broad range of political developments. The documents are drawn from all quarters of U.S. political life. They include legislative texts; proposed laws and constitutional amendments; state and federal court rulings; political party platforms; and interest-group position statements.

Author: Raymond Smith
ISBN-10: 0313346844
ISBN-13: 9780313346842
Publisher: Greenwood
Language: English
Published: 05/31/2010
Pages: 324
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 2.55lbs
Size: 11.00h x 8.50w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 10/15/2010 pg. 71
Library Journal 11/01/2010 pg. 91
Choice 01/01/2011
Reference and Research Bk News 08/01/2010 pg. 129