The patriarchal system is often upheld by the law, or the law is enforceable because of patriarchal norms. Either way, many of the rights we take for granted today were hard-won by brave individuals in court. These include the right of a woman to order a drink at a bar (Gill and Coote v El Vino Co Ltd, 1982), the right to work despite being pregnant (Air India v. Nargesh Mirza, 1981), the right to marry outside one’s race in the U.S. (1967), and the banning of the two-finger virginity test in Pakistan and India (2020).

Even today, many patriarchal laws persist, but the historic struggle and the development of feminist jurisprudence in courts offer valuable lessons. They not only make us aware of the battles fought before us but also show how discriminatory legislation can be challenged, creating precedents that can shape the law for years to come.