Law of Her Own

Caroline Forell is Professor of Law at the University of Oregon.Donna Matthews is an attorney in private practice in Oregon.

"A Law of Her Own will be an eye-opener to anyone who believes that the law has become even-handed in its treatment of gender. Very logically and politely, Forell and Matthews argue for one tiny change in the law that could finally balance the scales between the sexes. Reasonable men, as well as women, will be persuaded." - Barbara Ehrenreich "A very thoughtful and thorough analysis of the logical reasons a reasonable woman standard should apply. Well-supported and clear, with plenty of examples supporting their argument for the viability of a reasonable woman standard. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the law of sexual harassment, stalking, homicide, or rape." - Susan Estrich,University of Southern California, School of Law "Pragmatic and action-oriented, Forell and Matthews take up the challenge of discovering why sexual harassment doctrine and other feminist-inspired law reforms in the last generation have not been more effective in eliminating sexual bias and violence against women." - Martha Chamallas,University of Pittsburgh School of Law "The biases that underpin our legal system are far more difficult to change than individual laws. Forell and Matthews cut to the heart of the matter by replacing the 'reasonable man' standard with 'reasonable woman,' a step toward a future in which laws are made by and for reasonable human beings. A Law of Her Own is readable, revealing, and important to everyone." - Gloria Steinem "This lucidly written book marks a significant advance in feminist legal scholarship. Central to it is the simple but brilliant idea that, in certain legal situations, what counts as appropriate conductfor men as well as womenshould be assessed from the perspective of a reasonable woman. By insisting that this norm be applied only in situations involving sex, sexism, and aggression, the authors cut incisively through the sameness-difference dilemma that has long bedeviled feminist legal scholarship; they also address charges of essentialism by acknowledging that additional standards may sometimes be applicable. Utilizing a straightforward, non-technical style thatincrediblydispenses with footnotes, the book demonstrates that existing law is still, in some respects, a 'warrior code' and points the way to a more just and respectful future." - Alison M. Jaggar,Professor of Philosophy, University of Colorado