Freedom, Feminism, and the State: An Overview of Individualist Feminism

By Editor-Wendy McElroy

Twenty-two selections from the individualist feminist tradition, integrated with an historical introduction, span the history of the women's movement from the Grimke sisters through Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English. The second edition is produced by The Independent Institute; the first edition

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0841912254
• ISBN13: 9780841912250
• Release Date: August 1991
• Publisher: Holmes & Meier Pub
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Introduction to Early Feminist Literature

"Freedom, Feminism, and the State" offers a history of early feminist writings and how they influence feminist scholars today. Author Wendy McElroy draws a distinction between early feminists who supported the principles of the American Revolution and later scholars who favor a more activist government. In the book, she demonstrates that the feminist movement began as a quest to rid women of governmental infringement upon their individual rights, but gradually evolved into apologetics for a more intrusive state.McElroy defines feminism as the principle that every person - female and male - has moral jurisdiction over her own body. Laws that infringe upon this principle are unjust. When such laws are enacted on the basis of sex, then - and only then - do women become a political class who must respond. As a result, McElroy states that "As a political class, feminism is a response to the legal discrimination women have suffered from the state."Contributor Rosalie Nichols points out that women's rights are the objective natural rights that belong to them based upon their status as rational beings. These include their rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Because women exist independently of men, their rights exist independently of men. Thus, the goal of the early feminist movement was to secure and guarantee women's objective natural rights.McElroy asserts that throughout most of history, feminism has stood for this ideal. Early feminists believed that equality between the sexes meant equal treatment before the law and its institutions. Their goal was to be a part of society - not to remake it. They believed that women's freedom was a political concept - securing protections from unjust intrusions by the state. However, over time, some feminist scholars came to believe that existing laws and institutions were the source of women's problems, not the solution. They viewed equality as an economic concept rather than a political one. They are responsible for converting the feminist movement into what it is today.McElroy draws a distinction between what she considers to be non-political, historical feminist literature and modern feminist literature that deals with politics. Like most scholarship from the Revolutionary and Civil War eras, historical feminist writings were highly individualistic in nature and called for women to stand up for their independence and liberation. Today's political material mostly calls for governments to impose regulatory regimes to solve women's problems.McElroy begins her discussion of historical feminist literature by tracing its roots to the abolitionist movement. As many women were key contributors to efforts to free slaves, they became conscious of their own lack of rights and began to demand similar respect. However, many abolitionist men refused to support their cause. Even worse - some of them attempted to stifle it out of fear that it would undermine support for the campaign to end slavery. This le