Amanda at Pandagon has this very intelligent summary of some academic work about cognition and perception of women's rights as related to reproductive autonomy. It marks out a clear link between world view, and beliefs about contraception and abortion. Very interesting. In addition, it is a very clear illustration of the difference between "thinkers" and "feelers," if you buy into that categorization.
I hadn't thought about the power relations stuff in the US using those frameworks, even though having studied the same thing in the developing world I have read numerous studies that reinforce the finding. Duh. That's what I get for thinking the U.S. is somehow different because of our political "advances."
Posted by binky at August 29, 2005 10:12 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Gender and PoliticsInteresting post. Though as to her last point (the usage of "liberty" or "privacy") I think she might be overlooking something that could strengthen "liberty" language. There are now many, even many on the left, who criticize the arguments in the Supreme Court's "privacy" decisions. At the same time, there seems to be a resurgence in libertarian arguments in legal circles. Put two and two together and it could be that in the future, on the legal side of things - a "liberty" approach is the stronger argument. Though of course that doesn't change the fact that, speaking politically, right now "privacy" might provide the stronger case for protecting these rights.
Posted by: Armand at August 30, 2005 02:18 PM | PERMALINK