After Misogyny: How the Law Fails Women and What to Do about It

After Misogyny examines systemic misogyny in the law and proposes constitutional change to transcend it, highlighting the overempowerment of men and society's entitlement to women's unpaid labor. It explores how women are going beyond the antidiscrimination paradigm of American legal feminism and resetting baseline norms and entitlements through constitutional change worldwide.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2024
Publisher: University of California Press

Systemic misogyny is deeply embedded in the law, despite legal proclamations of gender equality and criminal punishments for violence against women. In her book "After Misogyny," Julie C. Suk argues that misogyny is not driven by animus but rather by the overempowerment of men and the overentitlement of society to women's unpaid labor and undervalued contributions. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of systemic misogyny in the law and explores the tools needed to transcend it through constitutional change beyond litigation in the courts.

Suk's analysis reveals that misogyny is not just about animus but also about the overempowerment of men and the overentitlement of society to women's unpaid labor and undervalued contributions. She shows how the law fails women by keeping society's dependence on women's sacrifices invisible. Through a tour of constitutional change around the world, "After Misogyny" demonstrates how to remake constitutional democracy. Women across the globe are going beyond the antidiscrimination paradigm of American legal feminism and fundamentally resetting baseline norms and entitlements. This process, which Suk calls a "constitutionalism of care," builds the public infrastructure that women's reproductive work has long made possible for free.

One of the key tools for transcending systemic misogyny is constitutional change. Suk highlights the importance of constitutional provisions that protect women's rights, such as the right to abortion, the right to equal pay, and the right to work without discrimination. She argues that these provisions should be strengthened and expanded to ensure that women's rights are fully realized.

Another tool for transcending systemic misogyny is the use of international law. Suk highlights the role of international treaties and agreements in protecting women's rights and promoting gender equality. She argues that these treaties and agreements should be ratified and implemented by all countries, and that they should be used to hold countries accountable for their violations of women's rights.

In addition to constitutional change and international law, Suk also emphasizes the importance of cultural change. She argues that misogyny is deeply rooted in cultural norms and values, and that these norms and values must be challenged and transformed. She suggests that this can be done through education, media, and social movements.

One of the challenges of transcending systemic misogyny is the resistance that it faces. Suk argues that misogyny is often defended by powerful interests, such as the patriarchy, and that these interests are often able to use the law to protect their interests. She suggests that this resistance can be overcome by building a broad-based movement that includes women, men, and other marginalized groups.

Another challenge of transcending systemic misogyny is the lack of resources and support for women's rights organizations. Suk argues that women's rights organizations are often underfunded and understaffed, and that this makes it difficult for them to carry out their work effectively. She suggests that this can be overcome by increasing funding for women's rights organizations and by providing them with the resources and support they need to carry out their work effectively.

In conclusion, systemic misogyny is deeply embedded in the law, despite legal proclamations of gender equality and criminal punishments for violence against women. Julie C. Suk's book "After Misogyny" offers a comprehensive analysis of systemic misogyny in the law and explores the tools needed to transcend it through constitutional change beyond litigation in the courts. By strengthening and expanding constitutional provisions that protect women's rights, using international law to hold countries accountable for their violations of women's rights, and challenging and transforming cultural norms and values, we can create a more just and equitable society for all.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520402973