I practiced law for 20+ years. I refused to admit (even to myself) that there were any gender barriers. I (like all my brilliant and assertive female colleagues) fell hook-line-and sinker for the myth that women were their own worst enemies. We attended talk after talk to learn about what we were doing wrong. Wear more black. Speak a bit louder. Brag. For gosh sake, don’t cry. And of course the double binds: Be strong but not stronger than a man. Be ambitious but not too ambitious. Be forward but not aggressive. I am exhausted by all the rhetoric that still thinks women simply need to change. And to add insult to injury, we tell women they have meaningful choices, like: If you want to mother your children, kiss your career goodbye. My current research (for my upcoming book) states in no uncertain terms that if we really want women to be free and powerful we need re-build our institutions and policies (e.g., legal, economic, educational etc.) with women in mind. We can no longer simply blame women. So stop it. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Source: My comment on the Slaw Lawyers blog 6 May 2013][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Instead of questioning gender barriers lets blame women, again
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