This class explores the treatment of women, gender, and sexuality under American law. The course requires close reading of texts, both legal and theoretical, and classroom dicussion of that reading. The texts include classics of feminist legal theory, as well as books and articles addressing current topics in what was once called "women and the law," i.e. all the ways in which the law either addresses or fails to address the experiences and lives of women as a category, and the consequences of that. Violence and equality theory are recurring themes, as well as current events and personal experience explored through the feminist method of consciousness raising. The class typically proceeds through guided discussion of assigned materials. Attendance, participation, reading, and occasional written reflection on the reading are required. A significant portion of the grade for this course is based on a standard graduate school essay-type exam, or, in the alternative, students may propose a feminist theory project that relates the themes of the class to actual social practice. Past projects have included development of legislation, creative production - including film and theater, organizing of conferences or panel discussions, scholarly writing, anti-violence community work, and social media organizing.