Gender and Law: Theory, Doctrine, Commentary (Aspen Casebook)

Gender and Law: Theory, Doctrine, Commentary, 7E is organized around theoretical frameworks, showing different conceptualizations of equality and justice and their impact on concrete legal problems. The text provides complete, up-to-date coverage of conventional “women and the law” issues, including employment law and affirmative action, reproductive rights, LGBTQ issues, domestic violence, rape, pornography, international women’s rights, and global trafficking. Showing the complex ways in which gender permeates the law, the text also explores the gender aspects of subject matters less commonly associated with gender, such as property, ethics, contracts, sports, and civil procedure. Throughout, the materials allow an emphasis on alternative approaches and how these approaches make a difference. Excerpted legal cases, statutes, and law review articles form an ongoing dialogue within the book to stimulate thought and discussion and over 200 provocative “putting theory into practice” problems challenge students to think deeply about current gender law issues.

Key Features of the new edition include:

• Materials surrounding LGBTQ issues have been significantly expanded to reflect statutory and judicial developments, including United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges, legal developments concerning transgender individuals, and sexual orientation discrimination.In addition, the materials on sexual orientation discrimination have been woven throughout the book, rather than cabined in a separate section.
• Equal pay materials have been expanded and refocused to include cases on the “factor other than sex” defense and legislative efforts to strengthen protections against pay discrimination.
• Coverage of pregnancy and caregiver discrimination has been significantly expanded, and the Supreme Court’s opinion in Young v. United Parcel Service is included.
• Reproductive health materials have been revamped to reflect developments in the law concerning the Affordable Care Act and responses to legislative efforts to curtail women’s access to contraception and abortion. These materials included the addition of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby and Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstadt.
• International comparisons have been enlarged and updated.
• Updated profile of women in the legal system and the barriers to gender equity.
• Complete reworking and updating of materials on campus rape, including celebrated cases and reform strategies.
• Revised materials on domestic violence, prostitution, and pornography, including feminist debates over appropriate responses.
• Updated analysis of women, poverty, and income inequality.
• Increased attention to conflicts between gender and religion.
• Many additional Putting Theory Into Practice problems have been added, most of them reflecting contemporary disputes and conflicts. This brings the total number of problems to 200. Moreover, the teacher’s manual includes dozens of video clips that might be used in class at different points.