Gender Stereotypes, Discrimination against Women and Vulnerability as Disempowerment. Reflections on the Role of Law

Abstract

Abstract: In contemporary constitutional states, the principle of gender equality is clearly stated. Despite that, women still suffer a continuum of discriminations that pervades every area of social life. Indeed, the construction of discriminatory gender stereotypes continues to relegate them to a subaltern position within society. By producing severe forms of disempowerment, this situation can render women vulnerable. Therefore, there is still the need to question how the law can both provide remedies to the persistent gender-based discrimination and avoid contributing to its perpetuation through the assumption of the stereotypes which feed it.

 Keywords: gender stereotypes, discrimination, disempowerment, vulnerability, law.