Gender and the Law

Gender and the Law provides an ideal introduction to gender and feminist theory for students. Beginning with an overview of traditional notions of gender, the book establishes the key feminist and queer legal theories. It provides a basic structure and overview upon which students can build their understanding of some of the complex and controversial topics and debates around gender.

Structured thematically, the book explores many fascinating and controversial legal issues, including issues of transgender rights; equal pay and equality in the workplace; societal changes and challenges within the regulation of personal relationships; the law surrounding consent and sexual offences; the role of gender norms in the criminal courts; legal regulation of prostitution and pornography; and the ways in which the law has responded to societal changes surrounding reproduction.

With ‘thinking points’ and ‘further reading’ suggestions within each chapter, the authors encourage an engagement with critique and theory in order to understand this dynamic and challenging field.

Judith Bourne is Senior Lecturer in Law at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham. She leads the First Women Lawyers in Great Britain & the Empire symposia and is author of Helena Normanton and the Opening of the Bar to Women. Her primary research interests include feminist legal history, Land Law and Equity and Trusts.

Caroline Derry is Lecturer in Law at the Open University where her primary research interests include gender, sexuality and the criminal law; feminist perspectives on criminal and evidence law; and feminist and lesbian legal history.