Law, transformative change and abolition feminism
Law, transformative change & abolition feminism to address gendered violence
researches in the areas of sexual violence, law and justice with particular focus on transformative justice and restorative justice. Her Leverhulme Research Fellowship aims to develop a new analytic framework to determine how law can be used for transformative change, addressing gendered violence.
About the project
Gender-based violence is endemic. Abolition feminism brings together police and prison abolition with feminist anti-violence work, understanding that gendered violence cannot be addressed through violent systems. Abolition feminism increasingly influences UK feminist activism, amplifying its calls to replace criminal legal institutions with community-based alternatives, such as transformative justice, especially as responses to gendered violence. However, abolitionist critiques of law can sometimes mask the fact that they are also part of a feminist tradition of using law for feminist ends. I am interested in the use of any area of law by feminists seeking to address gendered violence without relying on punitive systems. I am also interested in how law can be used in different ways (from strategic litigation to legal language in a campaign), and for different ends, as well as decisions not to engage with law. As part of this project, I will interview activists, organisers, lawyers, and gender-based violence sector workers to develop a new analytic framework to determine how law can be used for transformative change.
Call for participants
Needed
- feminist activists, organisers, gender-based violence sector workers
- who care about addressing gendered violence
- don't want to use the criminal law and legal system because you see it as harmful
What's involved?
1 hour to 1 hour 20 minute interview, via Microsoft Teams or in person, at a time you choose.
As a thank you, you will receive £50.
What is the value of the project?
The project will develop resources for feminist activists, organisers, gender-based violence sector workers and lawyers to inform and guide their decision making about the use of law, and also a book.
The full project information is available as a PDF: Project Information Sheet
