Since reading Mona Harrington’s book, Women Lawyers: Rewriting the Rules (an excellent read, if you have time), I have been fascinated by the sometimes invisible, but certainly real, barriers women face when trying to succeed in this fairly elite profession. Throughout discussions with many people, however, I have encountered skepticism that any problems exist. I have been told that I’m seeing monsters where they don’t exist, and claiming there’s discrimination where instead women are self-selecting themselves out of the profession.

A recent article in the NY Times--Why Do So Few Women Reach the Top of Big Law Firms? not only addresses similar hurdles as the book I read, but also provides explanations for the disparity between people’s perceptions of women in the legal profession versus the actual experience.

"Firms want women to stay. Men at the firms want women to stay, and women want to stay. So why aren't they?" asks Karen M. Lockwood, a partner at Howrey in Washington. "Law firms are way beyond discrimination — this is about advancement and retention. Problems with advancement and retention are grounded in biases, not discrimination."

The mommy bias we discussed in class pops up in this article, again referencing the stereotype that a woman with children will not be as dedicated, and that women feel forced to choose a family life instead of continuing along a career path.

The major issue, though, seems an oblivion towards these biases and problems.

According to "Women in Law," a 2001 study by Catalyst, a New York research firm that tracks women's experiences in a wide range of workplaces, most male lawyers don't see a lack of mentoring and networking opportunities — or commitments to family and personal responsibilities — as significant barriers to women's advancement. Those biases, says Catalyst, are more pronounced in the legal world than in other industries and professions.

How do you think awareness can be increased, without it seeming like an accusation of discrimination? Is it possible to eventually change the role the various genders play in childcare responsibility, or is motherhood something that needs to be worked around permanently? Have you considered how you plan on balancing your own career with a family, or are you choosing one over the other? I know that I'm still conflicted, and frustrated by the feeling that, regardless of the individual choice I make, it may still be hard to be truly happy and successful within both realms.