Description
Book SynopsisSince 1980, the Canadian women's movement has been an active participant in constitutional politics and Charter litigation. This book, through its focus on the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), presents a compelling examination of how Canadian feminists became key actors in developing the constitutional doctrine of equality, and how they mobilized that doctrine to support the movement's policy agenda.
The case of LEAF, an organization that had as its goal the use of Charter litigation to influence legal rules and public policy, provides rich ground for Manfredi's keen analysis of legal mobilization. In a multitude of areas such as abortion, pornography, sexual assault, family law, and gay and lesbian rights, LEAF has intervened before the Supreme Court to bring its understanding of equality to bear on legal policy development. This study offers a deft examination of LEAF's arguments and seeks to understand how they affected the Court's consideration of the issues
Table of Contents
Tables
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 Legal Doctrine, Legal Mobilization and LEAF
2 The Path to Substantive Equality
3 Gaining Ground
4 Family Matters: Breakdowns and Benefits
5 A Difficult Dialogue
6 Making A Difference: The Policy Consequences of Legal Mobilization
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Cases Cited
Index
