manifestation of the autonomous person. The current person is the best expression of the realization of autonomy over time, a person coming to know and express herself over time. To be sure, agents may suffer losses of autonomy, structural and psychological, over the course of their life. Looking back to the history of the agent and his choices allows insight into autonomy impairing circumstances without labeling that choice as either fully autonomous or Rather every choice lays someplace on a spectrum between perfect autonomy and perfect coercion. This approach which conceives of autonomy as a spectrum moving from perfect autonomy to perfect non-autonomy offers conceptual footing for liberal society to address autonomy impairing circumstances while still recognizing the autonomy of the agent’s choice at that moment. It neither erases oppressive socialization over the life of the agent nor places substantive limits on the autonomy of the agent. Willing Slaves and Deferential Housewives John Stuart Mill famously posed the problem for both liberals and feminists. In On he argues, principle of liberty does not require that he should be free not to be Liberty, “The free.” This prompts the following questions: Does autonomy include the option of abdicating autonomy? Does autonomy necessarily conflict with submission? deference? Mill understands the significance of this dilemma in the fight for women’s liberty. In he The Subjection of Women points to the many historical attempts to women’s Oppression produces “enslave” “minds.” willing slaves, and deferential housewives. Preferences and choices are sometimes merely responses to the unconscious acceptance of oppressive social norms. As Benson points out, many women internalize oppressive norms regarding appropriate femininity which can not only be tied to their past but also impacts their future. Can an agent choose submission that extends into the future? that binds them in terms of submission?
manifestation of the autonomous person. The current person is the best expression of the realization of autonomy over time, a person coming to know and express herself over time. To be sure, agents may suffer losses of autonomy, structural and psychological, over the course of their life. Looking back to the history of the agent and his choices allows insight into autonomy impairing circumstances without labeling that choice as either fully autonomous or Rather every choice lays someplace on a spectrum between perfect autonomy and perfect coercion. This approach which conceives of autonomy as a spectrum moving from perfect autonomy to perfect non-autonomy offers conceptual footing for liberal society to address autonomy impairing circumstances while still recognizing the autonomy of the agent’s choice at that moment. It neither erases oppressive socialization over the life of the agent nor places substantive limits on the autonomy of the agent. Willing Slaves and Deferential Housewives John Stuart Mill famously posed the problem for both liberals and feminists. In On Liberty, he argues, “The principle of liberty does not require that he should be free not to be free.” This prompts the following questions: Does autonomy include the option of abdicating autonomy? Does autonomy necessarily conflict with submission? deference? Mill understands the significance of this dilemma in the fight for women’s liberty. In The Subjection of Women he points to the many historical attempts to “enslave” women’s “minds.” Oppression produces willing slaves, and deferential housewives. Preferences and choices are sometimes merely responses to the unconscious acceptance of oppressive social norms. As Benson points out, many women internalize oppressive norms regarding appropriate femininity which can not only be tied to their past but also impacts their future. Can an agent choose submission that extends into the future? that binds them in terms of submission?