Reflections on Sex Equality Under Law

Summary of “Reflections on Sex Equality under Law”

Nais Imenova

Corvinus University

Course: Critical Thinking

Lecturer: Elian Gjini

Date: 09/12/2014

 Summary

The “Reflections on Sex Equality under Law” written by Catharine A. MacKinnon is the example of how first-wave feminists, in other words "domesticated feminists", “fighting” for equality under the law. In this article she pointed out the main idea that the law itself is invariably flawed, by providing the reasons that “women have no voice in the design of the legal institutions that rule the social order”. Moreover MacKinnon states that the sexuality is the primary source of women’s oppression globally. She did an extremely macro approach to the study of gender inequity concluding that that the sexual objectification of women occurs, as women are universally oppressed because men make sexual slaves of them.

Background

The baleful influence of feminist Catharine Mackinnon on society cannot be underestimated. She has been transforming law since 1980. She made a tremendous contribution by her legal conquests, neo-liberal individualism critiques, and outstanding thoughts about the necessity of gender equality.

Conclusion

To sum up, on the one hand it's also self-contradictory. MacKinnon treats the patriarchy as though it were cast in concrete. How is it possible to change women's lives unilaterally without altering men's lives as well? In addition, as if women choose sexuality as definitive of identity. Consequently, if it is as much a form of women’s “expression” as it is men’s.” Lastly, individuals are not completely alienated from agency. In fact, MacKinnon herself identified as heterosexual and, at one point in her life, was engaged to a man. How it is that MacKinnon escaped the system? I suppose she’d probably argue that her situation was unique.