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The Joy of Consent

A Philosophy of Good Sex
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( 241 ratings, 31 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Joy of Consent by Manon Garcia explores the philosophical and psychological aspects of consent, delving into its implications in everyday life and broader societal contexts. The book examines how consent shapes our interactions, emphasising its importance in constructing relationships based on mutual agreement and respect. By dissecting the complexities of consent, the author invites readers to reflect on how embracing consent can lead to more fulfilling and equitable human connections.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in exploring the philosophical and psychological dimensions of consent. The author provides a deep analysis of how consent functions in our everyday lives, challenged by power dynamics and social norms. It's a thought-provoking read for those who wish to understand the complexities behind personal autonomy and relational ethics.

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In the #MeToo age, US debate over licit sex has split into two camps: one insists that consent solves the problem of sexual coercion, while the other equates sexual pleasure with the patriarchal erotics of silence and mystery. Manon Garcia rejects both positions, arguing that consent is a faulty legal threshold but essential to the joy of good sex.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"From the bedroom to the classroom to the courtroom, 'consent' is a key term in our contemporary sexual ethics. In this timely reexamination, Manon Garcia deftly reveals the hidden complexities of consent and proposes how to reconceptualize it as a tool of liberation."
—Amia Srinivasan, author of The Right to Sex

A feminist philosopher argues that consent is not only a highly imperfect legal threshold but also an underappreciated complement of good sex.

In the age of #MeToo, consent has become the ultimate answer to problems of sexual harassment and violence: as long as all parties agree to sex, the act is legitimate. Critics argue that consent, and its awkward confirmation, rob sex of its sexiness. But those objections are answered with charges that to dislike the consent regime is merely to defend a masculine erotics of silence and mystery, a pillar of patriarchy.

In The Joy of Consent, French philosopher Manon Garcia upends the assumptions that underlie this very American debate, reframing consent as an ally of pleasure rather than a legalistic killjoy. In doing so, she rejects conventional wisdom on all sides. As a legal norm, consent can prove rickety: consent alone doesn't make sex licit—adults engaged in BDSM are morally and legally suspect even when they consent. And nonconsensual sex is not, as many activists insist, always rape. People often agree to sex because it is easier than the alternative, she argues, challenging the simplistic equation between consent and noncoercion.

Drawing on sources rarely considered together—from Kantian ethics to kink practices—Garcia offers an alternative framework grounded in commitments to autonomy and dignity. While consent, she argues, should not be a definitive legal test, it is essential to realizing intimate desire, free from patriarchal domination. Cultivating consent makes sex sexy. By appreciating consent as the way toward an ethical sexual flourishing rather than a legal litmus test, Garcia adds a fresh voice to the struggle for freedom, equality, and security from sexist violence.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Manon Garcia's The Joy of Consent offers a thought-provoking critique of contemporary discourse on consent, advocating for an emancipatory sexual politics informed by social norms and sexual injustices. The book argues for a contextually sensitive, relational approach to consent, aiming to transform it into a tool of liberation. Reviewers praise Garcia's sharp observations and lucid challenge of the current understanding of consent, highlighting its potential to enable joyful and emancipated sexual experiences.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780674279131

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 03 October 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Harvard University Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 476g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Manon Garcia is the author of We Are Not Born Submissive: How Patriarchy Shapes Women’s Lives. A Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows and a junior professor at Freie Universität Berlin, she has taught at the University of Chicago and Yale University. She received the Prix des Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco for the best book of philosophy published in France in 2022.

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  • The Joy of Consent
    "From the bedroom to the classroom to the courtroom, consent is a key term in our contemporary sexual ethics. In this timely reexamination, Manon Garcia deftly reveals the hidden complexities of consent and proposes how to reconceptualise it as a tool of liberation." —Amia Srinivasan, author of The Right to Sex A feminist philosopher argues that consent is not only...
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    Gisèle Pelicot's story outraged the world. The sickening parade of crimes to which she was subjected and her betrayal are dark pages in our history. Feminist philosopher Manon Garcia decided to attend the trial and to analyse its resonance for our future. It became the trial that demonstrated that trials will never suffice to serve justice. If the perpetrators, for...
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    What role do women play in the perpetuation of patriarchy? On the one hand, popular media urges women to be independent, outspoken, and career-minded. Yet, this same media glorifies a specific, sometimes voluntary, female submissiveness as a source of satisfaction. In philosophy, even less has been said on why women submit to men and the discussion has been equally contradictory—submission...
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