Summary of Love's Labor

Love's Labor is a collection of essays by noted feminist and civil rights lawyer Catharine A. MacKinnon. The book revolves around the way in which the law uses and affects women. MacKinnon's essays discuss a wide range of topics related to gender and sexuality, such as abortion rights, sexual harassment, rape law, and pornography. MacKinnon argues that the law has failed to adequately advance the status of women, particularly those in vulnerable and marginalized situations, due to its historically male-dominated orientation. Through her work, MacKinnon works to raise awareness and challenge the status quo by redefining concepts such as rape, consent, and male and female power. The collection also features MacKinnon's reflections on women's experiences in the legal system, her criticisms of legal thinking that oppresses women, and her efforts to reform legislation and the laws governing gender. Love's Labor is an important look at the law and gender from one of the most influential feminists of the 20th century.