Introduction of gender perspective into the juridical academic degrees: towards a regulated education

Abstract

The acceptance of the variables sex and gender in the Law has shown, in a critical manner, descriptive and prospective prejudices in untouchable concepts and theories applied in the juridical phenomenon. This demands a rigorous approach where a new methodological gender perspective is incorporated, affecting the very same foundations of the Law. This will affect, without any doubt, the teaching, shaking the current scientific academic model and, in consequence, the formation of the future male and female jurists. The modifications and redefinitions of juridical terms have not been minor. They have reached the very same principle of equality, redefining it, and the concept of discrimination, which supersedes the traditional Aristotelian standpoint taught in the Law Faculties, generation after generation. This reality, framed and pushed by the modern antidiscriminatory Law, has been formed by organical laws which must be complied with and which demand training in gender within the context of University studies and more precisely, in the case of juridical academic degrees. However, paradoxically, despite being currently immersed in a step change in the teaching study programmes (EES), it has not yet been established in a formal and regulated manner this institutional obligation. In this study, a new subject entitled “Gender and Law”, is proposed as part of the Philosophy of Law curriculum, as well as an interdisciplinary initiative, which will be presented herein, to ensure a suitable University education in antidiscriminatory Law to be delivered by expert academic staff.