Polish researcher wins ERC grant for AI and feminist legal theory project

A Polish researcher has secured a prestigious ERC grant for a five-year project exploring the intersection of feminist legal theory and artificial intelligence. The grant, described as a significant achievement akin to scaling a winter mountain, marks a first for legal sciences in Poland and for the researcher's university.

“

I don't know if I would use such a metaphor, but I am aware that from a European perspective, this is a huge achievement.

While the grant funds fundamental research rather than immediate legislative action, the project's outcomes will be disseminated through academic publications, conferences, and public-facing formats like podcasts, popular science articles, and blogs. The researcher emphasized the importance of communicating findings to the broader society.

“

ERC grants fund basic research. So it's not about implementing a specific solution, writing a law, or, to put it figuratively, building a rocket to the Moon.

Feminist legal theory, as explained, is not a single doctrine but a collection of approaches united by the belief that societal structures are not equitable and that women are not the privileged group. A core tenet is challenging the perceived neutrality and objectivity of existing laws and institutions, which were historically shaped by male experiences and then presented as universal.

“

There is no single feminist theory of law, just as there is no single feminism. It is an amalgam of many currents.

The project aims to move beyond traditional feminist legal focuses, such as domestic violence or sexual offenses, which the researcher termed the "legal feminist ghetto." Instead, it questions whether reforms within the criminal justice system can be effective if the system itself remains fundamentally structured around male experiences. The research suggests that a systemic overhaul, rather than piecemeal adjustments, may be necessary.

“

The mechanism in law is similar.