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Can family law be a tool for gender justice ? Women's advocacy and divorce legislation in France and Quebec (1975-2000) Drawing on the political sociology of law and social movement's theory, this article explores the legal dimension of movements' advocacy, by means of an analysis of the various ways women rights advocates have participated in family law debates regarding the economic consequences of divorce in France and in Quebec. The comparative analysis shows that issues such as compensatory allowances, pay alimony and the definition of matrimonial regimes play a more prominent role in women's advocacy in Quebec than in France. Moreover, these provisions are endowed with a different meaning in each context : while in France, they are perceived as a way to protect women and keep them dependent, in Quebec they are used as a tool for gender justice. Two types of explanations are offered for these differences : one focusing on the social profile of activists, and the other on the cultural meanings crystallized in law.