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Help Protest an Offensive Mock Trial Rape Case
By femlaw • February 22, 2007 •Other Issues
To my fellow women and our allies— I am writing to inform you of a mock trial fictional case to be used in a national competition that involves sexist stereotyping of female rape victims. On February 20, the Texas Young Lawyers Association and American College of Trial Lawyers posted a fact scenario for their national championship tournament, in which a popular football player is accused of raping Krista Chicona, a promiscuous massage therapist who is thought to enjoy sadomasochist sex [http://www.tyla.org/advocacy_ntc.html]. Somewhere in America, a woman is raped approximately every two minutes, but less than one half of rapes are…
An Open Call for Commentary
By Anna Nelson • February 20, 2007 •Other Issues
As one of the people helping build this Ms. JD website, I have been getting thoughtful, intelligent emails asking us to more prominently feature and foster women of color, lesbians, and other minorities who face distinct challenges in the legal profession. Ms. JD was founded by women of several ethnicities, sexualities, and experiences. But not all of us are bloggers. Speaking only for myself, I say to readers who want to hear--and see--more from not-white, not-straight women in law: post here! Refer colleagues and classmates. Share thoughts, start conversations. Make this place yours. About the Author Anna Lorien Nelson is…
The New Professional Dress: Ladies, Leave Your Feminine Charms at Home
By Anonymous • February 01, 2007 •Other Issues
By a Third-Year Law Student In the ongoing skirmish to redefine the parameters of professional dress for women, the old battlefields were permission to go without nylons and abandon the skirt. Today, barelegged women in pantsuits are fighting a more internal battle for the freedom to act like something other than a female man and still be taken seriously. Perhaps with the exception of Martha Stewart, whose empire is, after all, built around the concept of creating a warm and welcoming home, the top female professionals often maintain their queen of the mountain status only by ruling like a king.…