Laws that have been made by a government or the process of making those laws. It can refer to a single law or a set of laws on a topic.
From Latin-based *legislatio* meaning “the making of laws,” from *lex* (law) and *latus* (carried, brought). It entered English in the 17th century as legal systems became more formal.
Legislation is like the source code of a country: it’s written text that machines (courts, agencies, police) then execute in real life. Bugs, loopholes, and bad design in that code can have massive human costs.
Many landmark pieces of legislation have entrenched or challenged gender hierarchies, from laws denying women property rights to statutes guaranteeing equal pay or anti‑discrimination. The corpus of 'legislation' reflects long struggles over gendered power.
When referencing legislation, mention where possible how it differentially affects women, men, and gender‑diverse people, rather than assuming a gender‑neutral impact.
Recognize that feminist legal scholars and activists—often women working collectively—have been instrumental in drafting and advocating for transformative gender‑equality legislation worldwide.
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