Rewriting the Sexual Contract

Book excerpt: This book brings together a wide selection of viewpoints on what is happening to relations between the sexes and the sexual division of labor in contemporary society. The contributors look at the ways in which gender relationships are changing, the consequences of these changes for family life and society generally, and the part the state should play in future developments. "Rewriting the Sexual Contract" encompasses the views of people with widely differing orientations, stretching across the moral and political spectrum. The contributors provide varied interpretations of what the recent sexual revolution means and where it may be leading us. The questions discussed include: Are the life-styles of men and women converging or polarizing? Do men and women place the same value on family life? Do most mothers want to work full-time while their children are young? Are families strengthened by a sense of differentiation and interdependence between the sexes? Does social policy need to recognize sexual differences in order to maximize social equality? The contributors represent a wide range of viewpoints, but are all involved in analyzing and influencing public attitudes in this area. They include Carole Pateman, Roger Scruton, Ruth Lister, Fay Weldon, Michael Young, and Barbara Cartland, among others. "Rewriting the Sexual Contract" examines issues pertinent to the current social and political culture and will be of interest to sociologists, gender studies scholars, and political theorists. "Geoff Dench" is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Community Studies and a visiting professor at Middlesex University. He is the author of "Transforming Men and Minorities in the Open Society: Prisoners of Ambivalence.