Sex, Drugs, and American Jurisprudence: The Medicalization of Pleasure

61 Pages Posted: 15 Apr 2011

See all articles by Susan Reid

Susan Reid

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: April 15, 2011

Abstract

This paper explores the role of medical arguments in cases where courts have overturned statutes that burden pleasure-seeking behavior, such as non-procreative sexual activity or the use of endorphin-inducing substances. It speculates the characterization of the individual interests at stake as medical rather than pleasure-related, and the framing of state interests as moral rather than medical, facilitates the judicial decriminalization of pleasure-seeking behavior. This approach to framing individual and state interests is explored and developed in the context of statutes that burden non-procreative sexual intimacy, including key cases on contraception, abortion, and “obscene devices.” After developing the paradigm of medicalization through the lens of the sexual intimacy cases, the paper investigates the conspicuous absence of any discussion of pleasure in these cases and in legal discourse more generally. Finally, the paper explores the continuing criminalization of endorphin-inducing substances and argues that the use of medicalization in the sexual intimacy cases may provide an effective model for challenging certain statutes that burden substance use.

Suggested Citation

Reid, Susan, Sex, Drugs, and American Jurisprudence: The Medicalization of Pleasure (April 15, 2011). Columbia Public Law Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1810965 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1810965

Susan Reid (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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