Feminist Jurisprudence: What it is and Where it Leads

Abstract

This article explores the concept of feminist jurisprudence, which rests on the premise that the law would benefit from the addition of female perspectives in it. The author poses the question of how the law might be better for all if it took women’s experiences and sometimes differing values into account. The article offers a background of the concept, closely tied to movements for women’s rights. Areas that are given close focus include the sameness/difference debate, the reasonable woman standard, and legal methods and the workplace. Feminist jurisprudence is a refreshing combination of theory and practice. It can be an important beginning point for lawyers who seek to reexamine the meaning of their legal work on behalf of clients, litigants, constituents and themselves in an effort to make it equitable for everyone involved in the legal process.

Keywords: Feminism, women and the law, women’s movements, suffrage, sexual harassment, sex discrimination