The Politics of Sexual Morality in Ireland

By: C. Hug

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Paperback | 1 April 1999 | Edition Number 1

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296 Pages

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21.6 x 14.0 x 1.58

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The research for this book was prompted by a combination of events, in particular the election of Mary Robinson as President of Ireland (November 1990) and the X case which rocked Irish society (February 1992). The book is an exploration of the dynamics between the Irish and European courts, the legislators and the Irish citizens in relation to certain socio-sexual questions: divorce, contraception, abortion and homosexuality. Spanning the years since the creation of the Irish State, it questions the nature of the moral order regulating Irish society and the concept of democracy underlying it: from a moral order based on the natural law and Victorian ideology, to a moral order based on the fundamental rights of individuals. In the process, Ireland has swapped a crude concept of democracy based on majority rule, for one based on the rights of minorities of all kinds to be decriminalised and consensus so that all, be they Catholic, Protestant, atheist, homosexual or divorced, can live together harmoniously. The book examines the fragile balance struck between tradition and modernity, and is an indirect tribute to the work of former President Mary Robinson as a constitutional lawyer and senator.

Industry Reviews

'...a well-written and readable account of the change in attitude and the subsequent legislative changes with regard to sexual morality in Ireland...Crystal Hug has done us all a service in documenting this period and in doing so with a critical and sympathetique perspective. She writes fluently and engagingly, her research is detailed and skilfully utilised. This book should be a required text for every university course on Irish politics, history and sociology. Bien fait.' - Rona FitzGerald, Irish Political Studies

'...writes fluently and engagingly, her research is detailed and skilfully utilised. This book should be a required text for every university course on Irish politics, history and sociology.' - Rona FitzGerald, University of Strathclyde

'...excellently researched.' - T.P.O'Mahony, The Examiner

'Ms Hug has charted a clear path through the labyrinth of referenda, opinion polls, ecclesiastical pronouncements and legislation.' - The Irish Emigrant

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Acknowledgements
Introduction: Whose morality? What sexuality?	p. 1
Divorce: From an Indissoluble Bond...	p. 11
Grappling with the issue in the Irish Free State, leading to the ban (1937)	p. 12
De facto separations and some statistical indicators of marital breakdown	p. 18
The constitutional crusade: the first divorce referendum (1986)	p. 30
Divorce: ... To the Right to a Second Chance	p. 49
Judicial separation: a legislation that dare not speak its name	p. 49
The right to separate (1994)	p. 54
The second divorce referendum: the right to remarry (1995)	p. 60
Contraception: From the Protection of Public Morality...	p. 76
The construction of an Irish, Catholic sexual morality	p. 77
A women's issue	p. 84
The McGee case and Mary Robinson's pill bills	p. 96
Contraception: ... To a Responsible Sexuality for All	p. 109
An Irish solution to an Irish problem	p. 110
A new order: Three condom laws	p. 115
A legal but disorderly form of contraception: Sterilisation	p. 131
Abortion: From the Right to Life...	p. 141
Abortion is illegal	p. 143
Abortion is unconstitutional	p. 145
Abortion: an English solution to an Irish problem	p. 160
Abortion: ... To the Right to Live	p. 166
The X case	p. 166
Abortion: a European service	p. 172
Abortion: a moral and responsible option	p. 179
Homosexuality: From a Crime against Nature...	p. 201
A criminalised sin	p. 202
An objective disorder	p. 204
A not so inert law	p. 207
Homosexuality: ... To a Right to (Homo) sexual Privacy	p. 212
The Norris case: without norms or sanctions	p. 212
Nothing less than equality	p. 217
Gay visions in the heterosexual community	p. 229
Conclusion	p. 241
Notes	p. 245
Bibliography	p. 266
Index	p. 277
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

The Politics of Sexual Morality in Ireland

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

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