Blog #27

On page 77 of “Gender on Trial”, Holly English uses an example from the American Bar Association to demonstrate the competency gap between men and women lawyers. The American Bar Association poll taken in 1983 revealed that 38 percent of women lawyers said they believed they had to work harder to prove themselves. In 2000, the percentage increased to 60 percent. Similar surveys were conducted that demonstrate similar results. The same survey also showed that there was a perception of less respect for female attorneys. Seventy percent of women attorneys in the survey said that their male colleagues were condescending towards them. These studies show that there are obvious gender inequalities inside the law firm today and that these are not issues of the past that should be ignored. Women attorneys are less likely to get promotions because they are not typically seen as leaders. In the NPR report in the course materials, one woman was demoted for absolutely no valid reason other than her gender. It is also a struggle for women attorneys because they have to work much harder to prove themselves and juggle more stresses and obstacles. Men attempt to win a case against women attorneys through bullying them, because there is a preconception that women attorneys are much easier to intimidate and can knock them off their stride. Some men lawyers act like women lawyers are not competent in their case and attempt to call them out and make them look stupid in the courtroom. Male attorneys will interrupt female attorneys or try to provoke them for no logical reason. Minority women lawyers experience more scrutiny than while women lawyers or sometimes they feel that they get complimented more because of their race. When women respond to the skepticism, it reinforces the questions of competence and effectiveness that they face daily.