The Handbook of Women, Psychology, and the Law

Book excerpt: The Handbook of Women, Psychology, and the Law is agroundbreaking book that presents legal and psychologicalperspectives on how society has responded to the most vital (andoften controversial) contemporary women's issues. TheHandbook covers such important topics as abortion, rape,domestic violence, sexual harassment, employment discrimination,divorce, poverty, welfare, and mental health. Written by experts inthe fields of jurisprudence, clinical psychology, feministpsychology, ethics, and public policy, this essential volume showshow crucial social issues have effected civil and criminal law.This comprehensive resource Describes the evolution of gender-related legal decisions Explores sexual harassment in the workplace from both theindividual’s and the organization’s viewpoints Explains the “invisible” aspect of women’scontributions to the workplace Describes the ambivalence of the courts in cases involvingpregnant employees Presents an update of the psychological and legal sides ofabortion Reports on the gender gap in health insurance coverage Offers a cross-cultural overview of women and depression Explores recent legal interventions for incarcerated women whokilled their batterers Gives an analysis of rape from an international perspective andexplores the use of rape as a weapon of war Presents particular issues affecting women from placessuch as southern Africa, Uganda, and China