ABSTRACT

ORIGINS AND AIMS OF FEMINIST LEGAL THEORY The basic starting point of feminist legal theory is the belief that law essentially reflects the view of men, who have made the law to suit their representation of reality. Thus it is often said that law is ‘patriarchal’, favouring masculine values and concerns. One of the consequences of law being man-made is that the concerns of women are often overlooked or trivialised. The low conviction rate in rape cases and the question of domestic violence are cases in point.