Course:Law3020/2014WT1/Group R/Feminist Jurisprudence
Introduction to Feminist Jurisprudence
The feminist approach to jurisprudence is both modern and multi-dimensional. The diversity within the theory itself stems from being centred around the "lived experiences of women". No two people are alike, and thus a theory which champions the different perspectives and experiences of all women is inherently complex with many different approaches and ideas.
Despite the differences that exist there are underlying concepts which are core to the theory of feminist jurisprudence. [1] Two of these fundamental core concepts are; the world as we know it is structured by patriarchy.[2] and patriarchy is bad for women, it is morally unjustified, and should be eliminated[3]
Many of the differences amongst feminist theorists stems from the second concept, and disagreements over how to change the existing status quo of a society structured by patriarch.
Evolution of the Feminist Theory
Classical and Modern Liberal Feminism
Radical Feminism
Marxist and Socialist Feminism
Post Modern Feminism
(Critical Legal Studies)
Relational Feminism
Response to Feminist Critiques
One critique of feminism is that it can be reduced to the theories that inform it, for example liberalism. Such critics argue that feminism neglects to being any new ideas to the theoretical table. A response to this critique has been to acknowledge one of the essential tenets of feminism, the rejection of the patriarchy. [4] The rejection of the patriarchy is an element to the theory that distinguishes it from all the others.
Another critique which arises from this point, is that a theory only concerned with the rejection of the patriarchy is not very interesting or thought provoking [5]