Legal Dictionary of Pakistan

feminist jurisprudence

A branch of jurisprudence that examines the relationship between women and law, including the history of legal and social biases against women, the elimination of those biases in modern law, and the enhancement of women's legal rights and recognition in society. "The first published use of the phrase 'feminist jurisprudence' occurred in 1978 when Professor Ann Scales published an article called Toward a Feminist Jurisprudence. Feminist legal theory is diverse, and anything but monolithic. Many feminists believe that it is difficult to generalize about feminist jurisprudence. It is, however, possible to understand feminist legal theory as a reaction to the jurisprudence of modern legal scholars (primarily male scholars) who tend to see law as a process for interpreting and perpetuating a universal, gender-neutral public morality. Feminist legal scholars, despite their differences, appear united in claiming that 'masculine' jurisprudence of 'all stripes' fails to acknowledge, let alone respond to, the interests, values, fears, and harms experienced by women." Gary Minda, Postmodern Legal Movements 129-30 (1995).