Unit D - Blog 37

Many of English’s findings are similar to the ones of the American Bar Association Commission. The first comparable area that was noted was the gender stereotyped behaviors which the Charting Our Progress article uses examples of “insufficiently aggressive, uncomfortably forthright, too emotional, or not as serious as men about their careers.” These are all stipulations or suggestions that English and the subjects or her studies have pointed out. This article later uses terms such as “too boxy, too aggressive, not aggressive enough, too emotional, or too strident.” to describe women in law. These weren’t the same exact terms used in Gender on Trial, but the same concepts of gender discrimination. The next notable part was the sexist terminology that research proved to be more likely in smaller towns. The writing claimed that judges and bailiffs would use the words “honey” and “baby” when calling on female lawyers. The next area that Charting Our Progresses examines is the access to traditional business networks, which the article refers to as “informal networks men have with one another.” This is also practically out of English’s writing. English gets a little more specific when she talks about the golf course, sports, and cigars though. The next topic went to the all so popular work life balance. This article points out that flexible scheduling is very available to lawyers, but that lawyers were afraid to use those benefits because of fear for the possible consequences it would have on their careers. The following sentence explains that they would be perceived as “less seriously committed.” That term committed is used again. That last area of controversy discussed was the issues for the “multicultural” women. They had are parallel to English’s notions that often had to prove and establish their competency. Overall, I think this document was essentially a shorter and more brief version of Gender on Trial.