Introduction

Summary

In terms of gender equality, law is a fundamentally ambivalent artefact. It can certainly be a vector for progressive change, as documented in several of the contributions in this volume. Indeed, law has played a crucial role in many decisive battles and victories for gender equality globally, from the extension of political franchise to all those that were initially excluded therefrom (such as women, racialized minorities, servants, dependants, etc.),¹ to the more contemporary steps in the confirmation of a principle of equality among sexual orientations, gender identities,² family arrangements and so on. Accompanying a number of social and political struggles, law has helped tackle forms of discrimination and exclusion that were once entrenched in law and channelled claims of equal recognition and equality of opportunities relevant to the dignitarian, redistributive and participatory dimensions of equality.³