Sexuality and Law - Volume III: Sexual Freedom Preface and Introduction

Abstract

Preface and Introduction to Volume III in the Library of Essays in Sexuality and Law: Sexual Freedom. Theorizing sexual freedom is a difficult task; as a legal goal, it is neither universal nor absolute. Sexual freedom encompasses notions of liberty, dignity and autonomy. It also incorporates equality for sexual and gender minorities. This volume's treatment of sexual freedom includes issues of politics and power, as well as imperialism, national and other identities and the goals of scholarship and advocacy.

The volume opens the difficult conversation of sexual freedom by discussing foundational theorists whose work has influenced conceptualizations of the relationships between sexuality and law. It considers hierarchies of sex in legal frameworks and hierarchies of nationalism in sexual-legal frameworks. The persistent issue of sexual identity is analyzed through the lens of asylum and gender identity. The notion of inevitable 'progress' toward sexual freedom is addressed and challenged. The volume concludes by examining legal education, judges and their discourse and professionals within the legal system.

Keywords: Sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, liberation, freedom, nationalism, post-colonialsm, gender identity, asylum, theory