blog 27

The competency gap remains between men and women in law. Women have always portrayed to be the ones who were not intelligent. They were portrayed to be the housewife (Mona Lisa Smile). Society has created many stereotypes and perceptions of women. Male continues to be the dominant ones in workplaces. Men continue to hold the superior positions in law and continue to be the hierarchy. If this was not the case and women were equal to men, we would have had a history of multiple female presidents for the United States. Women have to work hard to earn their title and position. Women have to struggle and fight harder to gain respect and status. Most importantly women is constantly put to the test to prove their competency. Women lawyers are looked down upon when it comes to intelligence. When running against a male lawyer in a case, the male lawyer feels that he has power over the female. Women is portrayed to be as less incompetent then men. In cases men try to use their stereotypical “power over women” to win cases. Some men automatically believe that women lawyers or judges are “idiots” (pg. 81). It gives women the advantage to prove them wrong. However, is that what women are always fighting to do? Prove men wrong? It is unfair that women have to go through this struggle. In that profession some men constantly underestimates women competency. Still today, women are perceived to be weaker then men and has to “prove themselves otherwise.” This type of behavior is not only directed towards lawyers but also towards women judges. Sonia Sotomayor experienced this type of judgment herself with Sen. Lindsey Graham. While sitting in front of Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sonia Sotomayor was attacked with critiques. To me, I believe that Sen. Lindsey Graham was trying to show power and authority of men. When will the day come for women to have the same power, respect, and authority as men do?