WOMEN AND ECONOMICS
Discrimination continues in workplace
MICHELLE CHEN STAFF WRITER
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: News
On Friday, November 13, "Women's Rights Law Reporter," a quarterly journal published by the students of Rutgers-Newark Law School, presented its annual symposium entitled "Women, Law, and the Economy."
The conference featured women leaders in the fields of law, academia, and business in the discussion of possible legal reforms to aid the advancement of women's rights.
A keynote speaker and three panels of more speakers led the discussion. The audience, including law students and practicing lawyers, could interact with the speakers by raising questions.
Much focus was placed on the prejudices towards female workers. Dr Linda Basch, who has led the National Council for Research on Women since 1996, pointed out that although women make up half the workforce, they are often denied access to more influential managerial positions.
In private law firms, female attorneys comprise of forty-five percent of all associates but only eighteen percent of partners. In corporations, there is a bias towards women handling funds despite the fact that more households designate women to manage cash and that they have done so successfully.
The council's report of "Women in Fund Management" proposed ten solutions to address the problem, which includes requiring financial firms to develop a "critical mass principle" to increase the number of women in leadership positions.
Conversely, Professor Aditi Bagchi of University of Pennsylvania Law School suggested a reform on perspectives before one in the legal system. This would include resisting judgments based on sex and appearance and to be "oneself" as well as having control over how one is perceived.
Another problem recognized by the panel was the lack of support of women's double duty in child care and their careers. Dina Baskst, Co-President and Co-Founder of A Better Chance: The work and Family Legal Center, called to attention the lack of flexible hours and paid sick days (for care of children) in the law, employer discrimination of mothers, and defining expecting mothers as incompetent.
Professor Ann Thomas of New York Law School also identified flaws in the tax treatment of child care expenses. They are usually deemed personal, not business expenses. And the only individuals qualified for the $600 tax credit in child care expenses are people with incomes lower than $15,000, who would not spend $600 in the first place.
Women have come a long way since the 1849 convention held in Seneca Falls, but more improvements can still be implemented. As Professor Suzanne Kim of Rutgers Law School and faculty adviser of "Women's Rights Law Reporter" said, referring to the current economic recession, "A crisis is an opportunity to bring about change."
The conference featured women leaders in the fields of law, academia, and business in the discussion of possible legal reforms to aid the advancement of women's rights.
A keynote speaker and three panels of more speakers led the discussion. The audience, including law students and practicing lawyers, could interact with the speakers by raising questions.
Much focus was placed on the prejudices towards female workers. Dr Linda Basch, who has led the National Council for Research on Women since 1996, pointed out that although women make up half the workforce, they are often denied access to more influential managerial positions.
In private law firms, female attorneys comprise of forty-five percent of all associates but only eighteen percent of partners. In corporations, there is a bias towards women handling funds despite the fact that more households designate women to manage cash and that they have done so successfully.
The council's report of "Women in Fund Management" proposed ten solutions to address the problem, which includes requiring financial firms to develop a "critical mass principle" to increase the number of women in leadership positions.
Conversely, Professor Aditi Bagchi of University of Pennsylvania Law School suggested a reform on perspectives before one in the legal system. This would include resisting judgments based on sex and appearance and to be "oneself" as well as having control over how one is perceived.
Another problem recognized by the panel was the lack of support of women's double duty in child care and their careers. Dina Baskst, Co-President and Co-Founder of A Better Chance: The work and Family Legal Center, called to attention the lack of flexible hours and paid sick days (for care of children) in the law, employer discrimination of mothers, and defining expecting mothers as incompetent.
Professor Ann Thomas of New York Law School also identified flaws in the tax treatment of child care expenses. They are usually deemed personal, not business expenses. And the only individuals qualified for the $600 tax credit in child care expenses are people with incomes lower than $15,000, who would not spend $600 in the first place.
Women have come a long way since the 1849 convention held in Seneca Falls, but more improvements can still be implemented. As Professor Suzanne Kim of Rutgers Law School and faculty adviser of "Women's Rights Law Reporter" said, referring to the current economic recession, "A crisis is an opportunity to bring about change."
Be the first to comment on this story