Blog #29

So few minority women stay with law firms because they face discrimination in the office. Fewer than one percent of partners are minority women. Minority women are exposed daily to harassment, discrimination, and exclusion. The NPR report involves the stories of black women who have tried to work in a law firm with no success because of the constant biases and stereotypes that they face. With the stress of the job and the added stress of being a minority in sex and skin color, it is often not worth it for these women to stay in their careers and sacrifice their times and morals to a career that does not fully respect or appreciate their work. The “good old boy” network that exists in most law firms prevents minority women from progressing in the law field. Most people are shocked when they see minority women come into a courtroom and have the power, and it takes a toll on these women. Minority women are also denied the same social and informational resources as other attorneys in the firm. The NPR reports and other course material is consistent with what is said in the book about minority women as attorneys. Women leave law firms for so many reasons and adding the minority race factor makes it even more of a struggle to survive among the white male majority of the partners and other associates that dominate the majority of firms. The culture of the firm is hugely important when it comes to minority employees and if the firm is committed to a diverse environment they will likely treat their minority employees with equal respect as the rest. It is truly awful and damaging to American society that minority women are not more prominent in the legal field because the stereotypes and inequalities discourage minority women to pursue this career path, reinforces these stereotypes, and prevents more diverse professional law firm environments.