NCJ Number
128596
Date Published
1991
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The chapter discusses legal reforms pertaining to rape and sexual harassment in light of political changes and female disadvantage.
Abstract
A discussion of traditional laws and legal practices open up the chapter. The common law tradition of rape is presented. Criminal laws in the United States regarding rape derive from English common law. According to common law, only men could be perpetrators of rape and only women could be victims. The criminal and tort tradition of sexual harassment is not long; it was not until the 1970's that the first litigation of sexual harassment occurred. Past liberal reforms of traditional laws and legal practices are then discussed along with the critics of those reforms. The chapter concludes with future reforms of liberal law and legal practices. From the perspective of liberal feminists, liberal legal reforms have been a success by reducing gender inequality by promoting equal rights and equal treatment under the law. Future reforms, however, should focus on gender disadvantage rather than equal rights.