Appraisal of Women's Rights from the Perspective of Feminist Jurisprudence (original) (raw)

This paper appraises the struggle for women's rights globally from the perspective of feminist jurisprudence which is also known as feminist legal theory. Feminist legal theory is based on the belief that the law has been fundamental in women's historical subordination. The project of the feminist legal theory is twofold. Firstly, it seeks to explain ways in which the law played a major role in women's former subordinate status. Secondly, it is dedicated to changing women's status through a reform of the law and its approach to gender. Feminist legal theory emphasizes the works of four major Schools of Thought known as the Liberal Feminist School, Radical Feminist School, Cultural Feminist School and the Post-Modern Feminist School of Thought. These four schools of thought view women's rights from different angles as espoused in details in this paper. Other important schools of feminist jurisprudence like Black Feminism and Eco-feminism were also emphasized as the efforts of these two schools have made equally contributed significantly towards the promotion of women's rights all over the world. Despite their different views, they all agree as one that: (i) women have been marginalized; (ii) male superiority is perpetuated despite policies, assurances and political promises; (iii) males and females are considered physically and emotionally different, with men being considered as superior; and (iv) there is still a long way to go to establish gender equality. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the importance of feminist jurisprudence towards the promotion and development of women's rights all over the world through its theories and schools of thought.