Real Knockouts made McCaughey's mark in feminist theory, as the first comprehensive attempt to bridge the gap between academia and mainstream women's self-defense.
She also proposes the idea that by participating in self-defense, women change the definition of femininity and alter the gender roles, both male and female, that support existing rape culture.
As part of that, she analyzes the legal repercussions of violent self-defense, including consideration of the way that racism, classism, sexism, and stereotypes concerning battered wife syndrome affect the legal system's judgement on whether or not a woman's self-defense is legitimate.
Reel Knockouts (co-edited with Neal M. King) is a collection of essays that examine portrayals of violent women in film.
Most recently, McCaughey has written a number of essays on feminism, academic freedom, and the purpose of the university.