LAWS 392Special Topic: Feminist Legal Theory
The course examines the ways in which law acts on and shapes the lives and experiences of women and to reflect on how feminist legal thinking has shaped and acted on law. Students will be challenged to identify and think critically about the assumptions structuring legal frameworks and to consider the practical effects of these assumptions.
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Course details
- Dates
- 7 Jul 2025 to 9 Nov 2025
- Starts
- Trimester 2
- Fees
- NZ$962.40 for
- International fees
- NZ$4,873.05
- Lecture start times
- Monday 9.30am
- Wednesday 9.30am
- Campus
- Pipitea
- Estimated workload
- Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
- Points
- 15
- Availability
- Limited entry
Entry restrictions
Taught by
School of Law—Faculty of Law
About this course
The course comprises two parts:
Part I analyses the structuring effects of law and the development of feminist legal thinking about this. Is law itself inherently gendered, and if so, how? Conversely, how is law involved in gendering its subjects? We study foundational texts of feminist legal theory and address the perspectives of different schools of thought on questions of power, subjectivity, agency, autonomy, equality, and intersectionality.
Part II of the course is more applied, and involves consideration of topics including, for example: work, surrogacy, sex work, family law, and gendered violence. These topics will be addressed and debated in the light of the ideas and theoretical perspectives raised in the first part of the course, but through them we will also consider wider questions about legal constructions of – and assumptions about – care, agency, consent, freedom, and economic security.
Course learning objectives
Students who pass this course should be able to:
Describe, discuss, explain, analyse and critique a selection of key feminist legal theories;
Explain, appraise and evaluate feminist and critical strategies and methods;
Apply feminist and other critical theories to analyse law or legal issues, and generate new perspectives;
Engage in communication and debate with peers and staff in ways which respect social and cultural diversity.
Demonstrate analytical, critical and legal writing skills.
How this course is taught
This course is taught primarily through in-person lectures, with a combination of lecture-style content and discussion-based, participatory approaches. Students are expected to read the preparatory material and be prepared to discuss the issues in class. Lectures will be recorded and available automatically on Nuku, but there will not be a live zoom. Attendance in person will be a fuller experience as the spirit of the course is participatory and discussion-based.
Assessment
- Test one in-person - 9.30am-10.40am Wednesday 13 August Mark: 35%
- Critical essay - Friday 24 October 2025, 4.00pm Mark: 65%
Assessment dates and extensions
Once you've signed up to this course, you can use to see due dates for assessments and information about extensions.
Mandatory requirements
Find out what you must do to pass this course.
In addition to achieving an overall pass mark of at least 50% students must:
- Complete all assessment items.
- Students must obtain a minimum of 40% in each piece of assessment to demonstrate that they have achieved all course objectives.
If you believe that exceptional circumstances may prevent you from meeting the mandatory course requirements, contact the course coordinator for advice as soon as possible.
Lecture times and rooms
What you’ll need to get
You do not need to get any texts or equipment for this course.
Who to contact
Selected offering
LAWS 392
7 Jul–9 Nov 2025
Trimester 2 · CRN 6079