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

by Caroline Forell and Donna Matthews

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814726763
• ISBN13: 9780814726761
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: New York University Press
• Length: 261 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A change is long overdue.

This is a book about human beings, and what behaviouir they will justify - and will try to get away with - if they are allowed. There are so many striking aspects to this book. It's hard to believe that women can suffer so much abuse, and men can continue to dish it out, and men don't have to face the consequences, and women's suffering isn't acknowledged. This is graphic stuff, and it sure isn't sex and violence for entertainment. Another striking element is how utterly reasonable the authors' presence is, as they painstakingly take us through these criminal offences. And they write as one; you can never tell one author's style from the other's. It is real synergy.The book reinforces a powerful message. We have to treat each other with respect and integrity; and when we don't, we should be held responsible for our actions.

a law of her own

Written in a straightforward, non legalistic style, this book is a very thorough and thoughtful analysis of why the "Reasonable Woman" standard should be applied to both male and female defendants and victims, in situations involving sex, sexism, and aggression.Each chapter starts with a study of an actual court case, which the authors then analyze from the point of view of both the Reasonable Man standard which is used in most courts, and the Reasonable Woman standard that they advocate. They offer compelling arguments to support their contention that the Reasonable Woman standard not only results in truer justice, but at the same time elevates society's standards of conduct.For centuries, it has been said that "women civilize" a culture. This book convinces the reader that the time is ripe for the "Reasonable Woman" to civilize our justice sustem.