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ix Acknowledgments The production of this book would not have been possible had it not been for the combined efforts of so many people. I would like to first thank Michael Ames, my editor, for his indispensable comments, remarkable patience and good will, and dedication to seeing the book come to fruition, as well as Joell Smith-­ Borne, Meg Wallace, Dariel Mayer, and Silvia Benvenuto, who were instrumental in its production. I also owe much gratitude to Jackie Gately, who guided me through earlier incarnations of the manuscript and helped me edit it into its final form. Along the way I have enjoyed conversations with many colleagues who have influenced this writing: Nina Anton, Sasha Billbe, Andrew Brei, Monica Casper, Shari Collins, Ryan Ehrfurth, Bonnie Jean Kurle, Shannon Lank, Heather Libby, Kurt Liebegott, Sheila Lintott, Jack Mulder, Melissa Manchester Mulder, Nathan Nobis, Kate Padgett Walsh, Michael Paradiso-­ Michau, Leticia Sanchez, Maureen Sander-­ Staudt, Allan Sawyer, Kevin Sharpe, Marlene Tromp, Shalon Amber van Tine, and Eric Thomas Weber. My apologies to anyone I may have inadvertently left out. As they often do, many of my teachers have also played an indispensable role. Martin Curd, William McBride, Patrick Kain, and Mark Bernstein all helped to sow the seeds that ultimately led here. Carmela McIntire and Lisa Blansett, thank you for keeping my love of writing and literature alive during my philosophical studies. And finally, thank you to Paul Draper who was my first and only bioethics teacher—and one of the best teachers I had throughout my entire college experience. Any suc- Pro-­ Life, Pro-­ Choice x cess I ultimately achieve has its roots in your guidance, patience, and mentoring during my youth and in subsequent years. I would also like to thank the administration at Arizona State University ’s School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies for their continued financial and emotional support. I am also very grateful to the Center for Critical Inquiry and Cultural Studies at Arizona State University for financially supporting the costs of producing this manuscript via their book subvention award. Then there are my students, who keep my mind fresh and my heart fulfilled. Their questions and challenges over the years have helped shape all of my research in some way. They have taught me as much as I have taught them. I would like to thank my family and friends, who have supported all of my academic endeavors and have kept me grounded, and especially my husband, Tuomas, whose support, friendship, and companionship has been invaluable throughout my education and career. And finally there are my children, Michelle and Julia, who were always there waiting for me when I got home after a long day of writing with hugs, kisses, and the energy, magic, imagination, and love that only comes with childhood. ...

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