Steering, subversion, and parents’ rights
Abstract
Abstract Should parental rights block state efforts to influence parenting or frustrate parental goals? Using examples of public-school-opt-out denials and non-disclosure of a child’s gender expression as examples, I argue they should not. When parents harm children or society, governments may steer parents or subvert parental aims. The article considers and rejects claims that steering and subversion lack neutral justification, corrupt parental decision-making, facilitate abuse of state power, or undermine the values of intimacy and nurturing that parental rights are meant to protect. It also reframes parental rights as claim rights against state coercion, but as privileges against children.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare
Law
Rights
and Freedoms
Legal Issues in Education
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The Journal of Legal Analysis
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 135–150
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN