A Law of Her Own : The Reasonable Woman as a Measure of Man

Caroline Forell

ISBN 10: 0814726771 / ISBN 13: 9780814726778

Published by New York University Press Mai 2001, 2001

About this Item

Neuware - Despite the apparent progress in women's legal status, the law retains a profoundly male bias, and as such contributes to the pervasive violence and injustice against women. In A Law of Her Own, the authors propose to radically change law's fundamental paradigm by introducing a 'reasonable woman standard' for measuring men's behavior. Advocating that courts apply this standard to the conduct of men-and women-in legal settings where women are overwhelmingly the injured parties, the authors seek to eliminate the victimization and objectification of women by dismantling part of the legal structure that supports their subordination. A woman-based legal standard-focusing on respect for bodily integrity, agency, and autonomy-would help rectify the imbalance in how society and its legal system view sexual and gender-based harassment, rape, stalking, battery, domestic imprisonment, violence, and death. Examining the bias of the existing 'reasonable person' standard through analysis of various court cases and judicial decisions, A Law of Her Own aims to balance the law to incorporate women's values surrounding sex and violence.

Seller Inventory # 9780814726778

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Law of Her Own : The Reasonable Woman as a Measure of Man
• Publisher: New York University Press Mai 2001
• Publication Date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0814726771
• ISBN 13: 9780814726778
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 228W x 153H x 18D millimeters 228 millimeters width by 153 millimeters height by 18 millimeters depth
• Weight: 390 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Despite the apparent progress in women's legal status, the law retains a profoundly male bias, and as such contributes to the pervasive violence and injustice against women.
In A Law of Her Own, the authors propose to radically change law's fundamental paradigm by introducing a "reasonable woman standard" for measuring men's behavior. Advocating that courts apply this standard to the conduct of men-and women-in legal settings where women are overwhelmingly the injured parties, the authors seek to eliminate the victimization and objectification of women by dismantling part of the legal structure that supports their subordination.
A woman-based legal standard-focusing on respect for bodily integrity, agency, and autonomy-would help rectify the imbalance in how society and its legal system view sexual and gender-based harassment, rape, stalking, battery, domestic imprisonment, violence, and death.
Examining the bias of the existing "reasonable person" standard through analysis of various court cases and judicial decisions, A Law of Her Own aims to balance the law to incorporate women's values surrounding sex and violence.

About the Authors

Caroline Forell is Professor of Law at the University of Oregon.

Donna Matthews is an attorney in private practice in Oregon.