The Ashgate Research Companion to Feminist Legal Theory (Ashgate Research Companions)

As a distinct scholarly contribution to law, feminist legal theory is now well over three decades old. Those three decades have seen consolidation and renewal of its central concerns as well as remarkable growth, dynamism and change. This Companion celebrates the strength of feminist legal thought, which is manifested in this dynamic combination of stability and change, as well as in the diversity of perspectives and methodologies, and the extensive range of subject-matters, which are now included within its ambit. Bringing together contributors from across a range of jurisdictions and legal traditions, the book provides a concise but critical review of existing theory in relation to the core issues or concepts that have animated, and continue to animate, feminism. It provides an authoritative and scholarly review of contemporary feminist legal thought, and seeks to contribute to the ongoing development of some of its new approaches, perspectives, and subject-matters. The Companion is divided into three parts, dealing with 'Theory', 'Concepts' and 'Issues'. The first part addresses theoretical questions which are of significance to law, but which also connect to feminist theory at the broadest and most interdisciplinary level. The second part also draws on general feminist theory, but with a more specific focus on debates about equality and difference, race, culture, religion, and sexuality. The 'Issues' section considers in detail more specific areas of substantive legal controversy. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Notes on Contributors Editors’ Introduction Part I: Theoretical Questions in Feminist Legal Theory 1 Contesting the Dominant Paradigm: Feminist Critiques of Liberal Legalism 2 Feminism, Law and Materialism: Reclaiming the ‘Tainted’ Realm 3 Freedom, Power and Agency in Feminist Legal Theory 4 Law’s Truths and the Truth About Law: Interdisciplinary Refractions Part II: Concepts in Feminist Legal Theory 5 Equality and Difference: Fertile Tensions or Fatal Contradictions for Advancing the Interests of Disadvantaged Women? 6 ‘What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been’: Feminist and Queer Travels with Sex, Gender and Sexuality 7 Theorizing Race, Theorizing Racism: New Directions in Interdisciplinary Scholarship 8 Feminists Rethink Multiculturalism: Resisting Essentialism and Cross-Cultural Hypocrisy 9 In the Name of God? Religion and Feminist Legal Theory Part III: Issues in Feminist Legal Theory 10 Gender and Terrain: Feminists Theorize Citizenship 11 International Human Rights Law: Towards Rethinking Sex/Gender Dualism 12 A New Frontline for Feminism and International Humanitarian Law 13 Violence Against Women, ‘Victimhood’ and the (Neo)Liberal State 14 The Body, Bodies, Embodiment: Feminist Legal Engagement with Health 15 Motherhood and Law: Constructing and Challenging Normativity 16 Marriage and Civil Partnership: Law’s Role, Feminism’s Response 17 Gendered Power Over Taxes and Budgets 18 From Women and Labour Law to Putting Gender and Law to Work 19 Gender, Justice and Law in a Global Market 20 Women, Migration and the Constitutional Underpinning of the European Union 21 Ecofeminism and the Environment: International Law and Climate Change Index "As a distinct scholarly contribution to law, feminist legal theory is now well over three decades old. Those three decades have seen consolidation and renewal of its central concerns as well as remarkable growth, dynamism and change. This Companion celebrates the strength of feminist legal thought, which is manifested in this dynamic combination of stability and change, as well as in the diversity of perspectives and methodologies, and the extensive range of subject-matters, which are now included within its ambit. Bringing together contributors from across a range of jurisdictions and legal traditions, the book provides a concise but critical review of existing theory in relation to the core issues or concepts that have animated, and continue to animate, feminism. It provides an authoritative and scholarly review of contemporary feminist legal thought, and seeks to contribute to the ongoing development of some of its new approaches, perspectives, and subject-matters. The Companion is divided into three parts, dealing with 'Theory', 'Concepts' and 'Issues'. The first part addresses theoretical questions which are of significance to law, but which also connect to feminist theory at its broadest and most interdisciplinary level. The second part also draws on general feminist theory, but with a more specific focus on debates about equality and difference, race, culture, religion, and sexuality. The 'Issues' section considers in detail more specific areas of substantive legal controversy"--Unedited summary from book jacket