Actions speaking louder than written laws

Mackinnon makes a few important points pertaining to women and law making by the government. One vital point she makes is the fact that women are incarcerated for defending themselves from domestic violence against them. For example, as seen in the Lock up documentary, the women are the victims of domestic violence but yet they are incarcerated for their “crime” which is defending themselves against their husbands. It just amazing how the laws favor women in the written documents in the crime against violence but the actions taken against women says the opposite. As a woman, we are constantly reminded through media about how laws favor us and are always protecting us from all harm but the actions taken by the jail system tell us the opposite right? Looking back at readings from last week, women are protected by the institutions by having open shelters to women who are battered but yet there is not enough shelters open out there for all the women being battered every day.

            Another important perspective that Mackinnon mentions is the fact that the law plays one of the most important roles in women’s lives. The law is as stated in the text “operates most visibility in the lives of women in officially recognizing their captivity by surrounding, defining, debasing, and confiding them by the law.” This quote clearly states the reality of women and the laws that surround them. Not going to far, women are controlled by the government institution by the pornography/sex industry, injustice incarceration for women, and the setting of where women can be at certain hours of the night (examples: bars, clubs. Etc.). Unfortunately, we women are always going to be at the lower level of men since the law favors men by its actions. Yes, the laws are written and approved by government officials but sadly the reality is the laws controls the most important aspects of women’s lives. If we want the written laws to protect us women, we need to have women representing as government officials not having the men in the highest powers. It’s not just representing, it’s standing up for more right as women and taking control of the government, which is impossible as its seems right?