NCJ Number
142205
Journal
Journal of Legal Education Volume: 42 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1992) Pages: 1-30
Date Published
1992
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This article argues that the legal philosophy of "radical feminists," particularly those in academic legal circles, constitutes an authoritarian ideology that is illogical, ill-defined, impractical, and poorly worded.
Abstract
The primary focus of this article is the "radical feminists," who are defined by the author as having "the explicit assumption that men by their very nature consciously and systematically oppress women, who in turn are depicted as the primary victims of the male-hierarchic society." The author notes that the ideas of radical feminists dominate both the popular media and the academic literature. Radical feminists hold that all existing cultural and legal institutions in America, including the family, the church, the school, and the justice system have been structured and dominated by male-oriented concepts that oppress women and facilitate the dominance and exploitation of women by men. Although the feminists have accomplished many laudable advances in the rights of women, they have become illogical and unintelligible in their analyses of America's cultural and legal institutions. If they are to continue to make needed gains in obtaining rights for women, they must use more measured moderation, less hysterical rhetoric, and clearer writing if they are to obtain the support of reasonable men and women. 116 footnotes