Discrimination in Legal Profession

Despite the emergence of several feminist movements fighting for women’s rights in the society, it is still quite inevitable that in a field once dominated entirely by men; women’s movements do not have any say at all. It has been a prevailing social issue that remains partially unresolved. They might have acquired the right to enter the legal profession and fight on trial courts as male lawyers do centuries ago but they could never escape the silent sexism that still lingers in the legal profession.

Clearly, the power of law could not hinder the fact that women, regardless of colour or ethnicity, are still prone to discrimination and marginalization in a profession that men commonly dominate. Gender roles have always been an ongoing social issue in every patriarchal tradition and culture. Even in the present time, women still feel trapped in their own femininity as domestic demands restricts them in every way possible. This is happening despite the numerous feminist movements that have emerged throughout the years.

Women’s Status in Legal Profession Women have been commonly treated as outsiders when it comes to employment. It is not surprising though because women have been exclusive to domestic purposes alone some decades ago. Today, women are trying to climb the career ladder to make names and identity of themselves. However, this goal comes with consequences and prices that is usual for an “outsider” trying to penetrate a particular norm that has already been established even in the beginning of time.

Cases of harassment, discrimination, and humiliation of women lawyers have become very common issues in the profession. The membership in legal profession have been controlled for a very long time that the community of lawyers have restricted the quantity of lawyers by “exercising both formal control over admissions to law school and bar membership, and informal referral and social mechanisms” (assignment on toyota company 108).

They practiced this process by preventing outsiders such as women and other minorities to easily avail of the legal community’s membership. “These processes enforced the understanding that outsiders such as women and racial minorities would be excluded from the legal community or would be kept on its fringes in low-visibility, low-prestige specialties, serving others like themselves (Women Entering Legal Profession 108).

A case of gender discrimination is discussed in the publication of Women Entering Legal Profession where it describes how women are mistreated and stereotyped in a particular law school. Both faculty and men students made the educational environment inhospitable to women. While all students were subject to ridicule, particularly if they did not provide the right response when called on in class, women were rarely called on, and on such occasions, they were subjected to questions designed to embarrass them (e. g. , being asked to explain the details of rape cases) or were humiliated by such comments as “better go back to the kitchen” if they stumbled in recitation. 

Additionally, women knew they would be expected to respond on “Ladies’ Day,” which for many professors and men students was a show put on at the women’s expense. For example, one professor sat in the audience asking questions and told all the 3 women in the class to stand at the podium “rather like performing bears” (Women Entering Legal Profession 108).