Allowed by law or connected to the law and how it is used. It often describes things that follow the rules of a country or system.
From Latin *legalis* meaning “relating to the law,” from *lex* (law). It entered English through Old French *legal* during the Middle Ages.
Something can be legal and still feel deeply unfair or unkind—that’s why people distinguish ‘legal’ from ‘moral’ or ‘just.’ Laws are human tools, not automatic guarantees of right and wrong.
Legal systems have historically encoded gender inequality, including coverture, denial of property rights, and restricted access to professions and education for women. The term 'legal' has often been used to legitimize such inequalities until they were reformed.
When describing what is 'legal,' distinguish clearly between legality and justice, and acknowledge when laws have had gender‑disparate impacts or origins.
Note that many advances in legal rights—such as property ownership, voting, and workplace protections—were achieved through sustained activism led by women and gender‑diverse people.
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