A law of her own : the reasonable woman as a measure of man /

American law reflects a male perspective. Historically, this bias reinforced a paternal view of women who were denied the legal rights of men. Women could not vote, own property, or pursue certain professions. Even today, tort law adjudicates responsibility premised upon a "reasonable man" standard. Criminal law, especially law dealing with violence against women, examines culpability from the point of the male aggressor and not from the perspective of the female victim. Such a perspective, according to the authors, fails to protect women from violence and harassment. Forell and Matthews argue for the adoption of the "reasonable woman" standard in areas concerning sex and violence. Such a standard looks at violence and sexual aggression from a female perspective and is rooted in the realities of women's experiences. It would also better protect from discrimination victims, both female and male, the latter in terms of male-to-male attacks. After initial chapters review the law on gender, the book explores the evolution of the reasonable woman standard in current case law and how it would be applied to workplace discrimination, stalking, domestic homicide, and rape. An excellent supplement to collections on women and the law and gender discrimination. Recommended at all levels. D. Schultz; Hamline University