Gender, the workplace and the limits of the law: a reply to Cramer and Cote Hampson

Abstract

This reply discusses two articles that explore the limits of legal initiatives that attempt to rectify gender imbalances. The two articles tackle different issue areas (birthing and parental policies), yet come to similar conclusions: legal initiatives cannot necessarily change deeply entrenched cultural norms about women's bodies and choices. The articles also point to the problematic conclusion that policies meant to improve women's experience and expand their choices are ultimately restricted by societal norms about a woman's imagined role in the home and workplace. The articles push the boundaries of debates about gender empowerment and the law, and suggest a series of questions that remain to be answered.