"The project of feminist legal theory is twofold. First, feminist jurisprudence seeks to explain ways in which the law played a role in women's former subordinate status."
This subfield examines the just and unjust principles of law and how they affect women and different genders in different cultures.
Patriarchy: Patriarchy refers to a system of societal and cultural norms that relegate women to a subordinate status in relation to men.
Sex and gender: Feminist jurisprudence recognizes that sex and gender are not the same thing, and that legal systems must be sensitive to the ways in which gender-based discrimination can affect individuals.
Intersectionality: Intersectionality refers to the idea that different forms of oppression (such as racism, sexism, classism, etc.) can intersect and overlap, creating new and distinct forms of inequality.
The history of feminist legal theory: Feminist jurisprudence has a long and complex history, spanning many decades and involving a wide range of thinkers and activists.
Legal systems and power structures: Feminist jurisprudence recognizes that legal systems are inherently shaped by power structures, and that these structures can often reinforce existing inequalities.
Gendered violence: Feminist jurisprudence recognizes that violence against women is often motivated by gender-based biases and attitudes.
Sexuality and reproduction: Feminist jurisprudence considers issues related to reproductive rights and sexual orientation, including access to contraception, same-sex marriage, and support for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Pay equity and economic justice: Feminist jurisprudence recognizes that women are often paid less than men for the same work, and that economic justice is an important aspect of gender equality.
International perspectives on feminist legal theory: Feminist jurisprudence is a global movement, with activists and scholars working to advance gender equality in different cultural and legal contexts.
Critiques of feminist legal theory: Not everyone agrees with the principles of feminist jurisprudence, and there are ongoing debates about the best ways to promote gender equality within legal systems.
Liberal Feminism: Focuses on equal opportunity and treating individuals the same regardless of gender. In this theory, women should have the same legal rights as men and be judged based on individual merit.
Radical Feminism: Argues that the legal system is inherently patriarchal and seeks to overthrow it by replacing it with a system that values women's experiences and perspectives.
Cultural Feminism: Focuses on the unique experiences of women and the importance of honoring and recognizing the feminine viewpoint in legal contexts. Argues that women's experiences should be taken into consideration when it comes to decision-making.
Marxist Feminism: Views gender inequality as a consequence of the capitalist mode of production. Argues that the legal system is used to uphold capitalist interests and that only a feminist socialist revolution can address gender inequality.
Postmodern Feminism: Argues that all categories, including gender, are socially constructed and that the law and legal concepts are inherently fluid and open to interpretation.
Black Feminism: Focuses on the unique experiences of black women and the intersectionality of gender, race, class, and sexuality. Argues that the legal system is inherently biased against black women and seeks to address this by centering black women in legal advocacy.
Transnational Feminism: Takes a global perspective on feminist issues and seeks to address the ways in which gender intersects with other cultural and political factors across borders.
Ecofeminism: Views the oppression of women and the exploitation of the environment as interconnected and seeks to address these issues simultaneously. Argues that the law should incorporate environmental concerns as a part of feminist legal theory.
"Feminist legal theory, also known as feminist jurisprudence, is based on the belief that the law has been fundamental in women's historical subordination."
"The project of feminist legal theory is twofold. First, feminist jurisprudence seeks to explain ways in which the law played a role in women's former subordinate status. Second, feminist legal theory is dedicated to changing women's status through a rework of the law and its approach to gender."
"Feminist legal theory was directly created to recognize and combat the legal system built primarily by the and for male intentions, often forgetting important components and experiences women and marginalized communities face."
"It is a critique of American law that was created to change the way women were treated and how judges had applied the law in order to keep women in the same position they had been in for years."
"This movement originated in the 1960s and 1970s with the purpose of achieving equality for women by challenging laws that made distinctions on the basis of sex."
"One example of this sex-based discrimination during these times was the struggles for equal admission and access to their desired education."
"The women's experiences and persistence to fight for equal access led to low rates of retention and mental health issues, including anxiety disorders."
"Through their experiences, they were influenced to create new legal theory that fought for their rights and those that came after them in education and broader marginalized communities which led to the creation of the legal scholarship feminist legal theory in the 1970s and 1980s."
"It was crucial to allowing women to become their own people through becoming financially independent and having the ability to find real jobs that were not available to them before due to discrimination."
"The foundation of feminist legal theory reflects this second and third-wave feminist struggles."
"Feminist legal theorists today extend their work beyond overt discrimination by employing a variety of approaches to understand and address how the law contributes to gender inequality."
"Feminist legal theory, also known as feminist jurisprudence, is based on the belief that the law has been fundamental in women's historical subordination."
"First, feminist jurisprudence seeks to explain ways in which the law played a role in women's former subordinate status."
"The women who worked in this area viewed law as holding women in a lower place in society than men based on gender assumptions, and judges have therefore relied on these assumptions to make their decisions."
"Second, feminist legal theory is dedicated to changing women's status through a rework of the law and its approach to gender."
"One example of this sex-based discrimination during these times was the struggles for equal admission and access to their desired education."
"The women's experiences and persistence to fight for equal access led to low rates of retention and mental health issues, including anxiety disorders."
"Through their experiences, they were influenced to create new legal theory that fought for their rights and those that came after them in education and broader marginalized communities which led to the creation of the legal scholarship feminist legal theory in the 1970s and 1980s."
"Feminist legal theorists today extend their work beyond overt discrimination by employing a variety of approaches to understand and address how the law contributes to gender inequality."