Customer Reviews

At Women's Expense: State Power and the Politics of Fetal Rights

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Daniels portrays a complext and necessarily ambiguous arguement concerning the relationships between women, fetuses, the state, and other interested (but neglected) parties (e.g. fathers).

Daniels argues that a more nuanced understanding among these relationships is called for, and that the pitting of rights between mother and fetus is not only unhelpful but quite destructive to principles of justice and reproductive autonomy.

Using a rich base of sources, like popular media, court cases, and newspapers, Daniels makes a compelling argument that is easily accessible to readers.

This book serves as an excellent introduction to the vast literature surrounding reproductive/fetal rights. Scholars in feminism, disability studies, and visual culture will find Daniels' work illuminating and informative.

I also had to read this book for a college feminist course and it is completely outdated. This is the kind of material that makes some people resent feminism. It does not represent any rational school of feminism. Daniels argues for drug abuse and alcoholism among pregnant women. She also seems to think that companies which prohibit pragnant women from handling hazardious materials, like lead, have a secret agenda to keep women from working. In one chapter she sticks up for a woman who refused to have a ceserian because the baby would have complicated her life had it lived. Additionally, the medical information she uses to argue her points and the studies she cites in her favor date back anywhere from 12 to 30 years. I can't believe this book was ever published and I really can't believe it is still being taught.

Throughout the entire book, Daniels continously and erroneously asserts that women are somehow subjugated by having certain policies that protect their fetus. Well, boo hoo. A woman should not have the right to drink alcohol if she is pregnant. I think she can go for a few months without intoxicating herself and her developing life. I found it very irritating and quite frustrating. It was assigned in a feminist college course.