Revisiting Feminist Objections to Cohabitation Reform
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About the Event
Cohabitation reform will become a key discussion point in 2026 owing to the release in spring of the Ministry of Justice's eagerly anticipated consultation. This consultation will likely set out plans for reform and while such a move is backed by practitioner organisations, the introduction of increased protections remains, for some, controversial. Objections to reform are varied but of specific interest are those arising from feminists. These have tended to centre concerns regarding the creation of dependency upon men, the invasion of privacy and the imposition of marriage-like structures on cohabiting women, despite the well-documented detriments that marriage historically imposed on wives. Drawing upon recent studies and comparative family law insights, this presentation revisits both traditional and modern feminist objections. The aim is to advance a more nuanced understanding which recognises the need to combat relationship-generated disadvantage that is often experienced by cohabiting women while taking feminist concerns seriously.
Recommended Pre-Reading: Burns v Burns.pdf
Speaker: Prof. Andy Hayward
Discussants: Prof. Jonathan Herring; Merit Fluger
Moderator: Yihong Chen
About the Speaker
Andy Hayward is Professor of Family Law at Durham Law School. His research focuses on domestic and comparative family law, especially the legal regulation of adult interpersonal relationships. Andy was appointed Special Advisor to the UK Parliament’s Women and Equalities Committee for their Rights of Cohabiting Partners Inquiry in 2021 and has advised Members of Parliament and policymakers on cohabitation reform. With Professor Jens Scherpe, Andy is currently finalising a major study of cohabitation law and policy in 35 countries.
How to attend
This is a hybrid event.
[In Person]
Faculty of Law - Seminar Room F, St Cross Building, Oxford OX1 3TJ
[Online]
Microsoft Teams meeting:
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/35553590853052?p=5XH120BGEboZu9KImE
Meeting ID: 355 535 908 530 52
Passcode: 9xs6b8zp
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