President's Message, Winter 2008
"We allow our ignorance to prevail upon us and make us think
we can survive alone, alone in patches, alone in groups, alone in
races, even alone in genders." - Maya Angelou
As the presidential campaign continues to heat up with divisive
rhetoric, the burning question for women lawyers is whether the
whisper campaign against powerful women is based on sexism or
personality. While it might certainly be my imagination, it appears that a
tough-talking president cannot also be a woman. The
highly publicized, polarizing race between two very
accomplished presidential candidates raises an
extremely interesting question: How do people really
feel about gender and power? What would it take for
a woman to become Governor of California or
President of the United States?
30 years ago, Harvard Business School professors
wanted to change the world by filling the corporate
pipeline with female managers. The plan was to end
sexism in the workplace by developing women
leaders. It didn't work that way. In the April 2008
issue of Portfolio Magazine, writer Harriet Rubin commented, "While
women have made huge professional gains in the past three decades, progress
now appears to have slowed or stalled. In some cases, it's even backsliding."
In the legal profession, the American Bar Association reports that salaries of
women lawyers are slipping compared to their male counter-parts. This
same trend is seen throughout corporate America.
The reality is that opportunities for entry-level positions in corporate
America exist, but becoming a true leader remains as difficult as when it was
when I first became a lawyer in 1984. In part, it is a matter of expectations.
For at least the last 2 decades, there have been ample opportunities for girls
to participate in high school athletics and to seek admission into the "best"
Universities in America. "Equal opportunity" is taken for granted, creating
complacency and an expectation that this "equality" will carry all the way
through as an adult. I have observed (from the distance of a generation) that
they "expect" equality in the workplace because they have been told
growing up that they are "equal." Until they are not! Until the door cruelly
shuts closed the first time they question the status quo, the first time they
need accommodations because of the birth of a baby, the first time that they
have to take an extended leave because of a medical condition. Then, and
only then, do our professional women realize (often too late) that barriers to
equality rise up when it really matters. This is what the Glass Ceiling
programs are all about.
California Women Lawyers was formed over 30 years ago with exactly
that issue in mind: equal access to leadership in the legal profession. While
many of the issues have evolved over time, the fundamental goal remains the
same: to promote women to become true leaders of this legal profession and
society. Where CWL really provides an intangible benefit to all women
lawyers in California is that we provide that "support group" for every one
of us struggling through basic work-life issues: How can I raise a family in a
world of 200 a month billable minimums? How can I get paid for the value I
bring to the firm? How can I control the direction of my career so that I can
"feed myself?"
CWL prides itself on the sisterhood of the voices of many to make a
strong voice for all California women lawyers. When I faced my most trying
professional crises in 1999, it was the strength and support of my sisters in
Women Lawyers of Sacramento (one of
CWL's strongest affiliates) that helped
me choose a path that led me out of my
career crises. At that point, I was faced
with an unimaginable choice to either
"go along" with workplace harassment
or "get out." I "got out." I have had
the opportunity throughout my career
to counsel other women lawyers faced
with similar issues on how to best
navigate the uncharted waters of the
internal politics of law firms and
governmental agencies. The themes
continue today: speak out at your own
peril. If you do, you will be isolated and
ostracized. If you "go along with the
program, we will take care of you." I
still find this paternalistic view by many
of the leaders of the legal profession to
be outrageous and disappointing.
However, many of us think we are alone
and have no choice but to "go along"
with a program based on sexism.
CWL continues to honor those
among us who have been great mentors
and role models. Sacramento County
Superior Court Judge Emily Vasquez
was recently honored with CWL's
prestigious Rose Bird Award, in large
part due to her sincere and constant
mentoring of women lawyers and
judges. Her encouragement of others
has made a tremendous difference in
improving the composition of the
judiciary and inspiring many talented
women lawyers to extend themselves to
dream of the impossible. We do need
more leaders such as Judge Vasquez. We
need to extend ourselves just as Judge
Vasquez has done to encourage those
around us to reach beyond our
immediate grasp. We, as women
lawyers, need to reach out beyond our
immediate struggles of paying bills and
meeting deadlines to give a hand to
those who are in need.
CWL has really focused on the theme
for this year, "Our Voice Counts." To
implement this theme, we have
strengthened bridges with and among
our affiliates, the judiciary and the
legislature to promote social justice
through the legal system. As part of our
efforts to harness the tremendous power
of CWL, we are reviving our Affiliate
Conference. This conference was
historically created in order to gather
women lawyers together in one place to
explore together the issues that confront
us in the legal profession. CWL has
brought this conference back to life this
year to bring all women lawyers
together to explore what it means to be
a lawyer today and how we together can
change the legal profession for
tomorrow. This year's conference will
be held in Long Beach on June 14, 2008
on the Queen Mary and promises to be
the "can't miss" event of the year.
The magic of CWL is its reminder
that we can accomplish so much more
with one voice than we can by acting
alone. Take the time to reach out to
someone today.
~Karen M. Goodman
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