A law is an official rule made by a government or authority that people in a society must follow; it can also mean a basic rule of nature that always works the same way.
From Old English *lagu*, from Old Norse *lag*, meaning something laid down or fixed. The idea is of rules being “laid down” for people to follow.
We use the same word for traffic rules and for the *laws of physics*, even though one can be changed by voting and the other can’t. That double use shows how humans like to see nature as if it were following a rulebook too.
Legal systems historically excluded women from full rights (e.g., property, voting, marital autonomy) and from legal professions in many countries. Laws have also been used to enforce gender roles and control women’s bodies and labor.
When discussing 'the law', note how legal frameworks can affect genders differently and acknowledge reforms driven by women and gender equality movements where relevant.
Women lawyers, judges, and activists have been central to expanding legal rights in areas like suffrage, reproductive rights, workplace equality, and protections from gender-based violence.
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