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Simple English definitions for legal terms
feminist jurisprudence
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A quick definition of feminist jurisprudence:
Feminist jurisprudence is a way of thinking about laws and rules that focuses on fairness and equality for all people, regardless of gender. It started in the 1960s and has become an important part of legal thinking in the United States. Feminists believe that laws and rules are often made by men and reflect their values and beliefs, which can be unfair to women and other groups. Feminist jurisprudence looks at how laws affect different groups of people and tries to make sure that everyone is treated fairly. It has helped to improve laws related to things like employment, divorce, reproductive rights, and violence against women.
A more thorough explanation:
Feminist jurisprudence is a philosophy of law that focuses on issues of equality based on political, economic, and social factors. It began in the 1960s and has since become a significant field of legal scholarship in the United States. Feminist jurisprudence influences debates on sexual and domestic violence, workplace inequality, disability rights, and discrimination.
Feminists have identified gendered components and implications of seemingly "neutral" laws and practices. For example, laws impacting employment, divorce, reproductive rights/abortion, rape, domestic violence, and sexual harassment have all benefited from the analysis and insight of feminist jurisprudence.
Feminists believe that history has been written from a Western cis-male point of view, creating a bias in the concepts of human nature, gender potential, and social arrangements. The language, logic, and structure of the law are male-created and reinforce Western male values and power dynamics. Feminists challenge the belief in the biological and social concepts of a gender binary, arguing that gender is a social construct on a spectrum and not biological.
There are many schools of thought within feminist jurisprudence, but they share a commitment to equality. Examples of legal documents and cases that have been influenced by feminist jurisprudence include the 19th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, and Supreme Court decisions such as Roe v. Wade.
Overall, feminist jurisprudence seeks to challenge and change the legal system to promote equality and justice for all individuals, regardless of gender or other social factors.