The emergence of an Afro-Caribbean legal tradition

the long version

"Ethnography of the use of family courts focuses on gender relations and ideology, family structure, and dominant ideology as expressed in the law. Presents findings on gender attitudes, expectations between men and women, and range of discourse between men and women. Describes Jamaican family court as an 'arena' for negotiation/contestation of gender relations, and makes convincing argument for laws/processes which are 'more relevant to the target population.' Argues that promotion of the 'nuclear family' in law has not had its intended effects; instead, it has permitted litigants to manipulate official ideology for their own ends rather than leading to its internalization"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 57.