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Becoming Gentlemen: Women, Law School, and Institutional Change
"The challenge, then, is not to invent new victims or new scapegoats but to mobilize America for the future. What would it take to ensure that all of us can succeed at getting the job done, the problem solved, and the future more secure?"
As a student at Yale Law School in 1974, Lani Guinier attended a class with a white male professor who addressed all the students, male and female, as "gentlemen." To him the greeting was a form of honorific, evoking the values of traditional legal education. To her it was profoundly alienating.
Years later Guinier began a study of female law students with her colleagues, Michelle Fine and Jane Balin, to try to understand the frustrations of women law students in male-dominated schools. Women are now entering law schools in large numbers, but too often many still do not feel welcome. As one says, "I used to be very driven, competitive. Then I started to realize that all my effort was getting me nowhere. I just stopped caring. I am scarred forever."
After interviewing hundreds of women with similar stories, the authors conclude that conventional one-size-fits-all approaches to legal education discourage many women who could otherwise succeed and, even more, fail to help all students realize their full potential as legal problem-solvers.
In Becoming Gentlemen Guinier, Fine, and Balin dare us to question what it means to become qualified, what a fair goal in education might be, and what we can learn from the experience of women law students about teaching and evaluating students in general. Including the authors' original study and two essays and a personal afterword by Lani Guinier, the book challenges us to work toward a more just society, based on ideals of cooperation, the resources of diversity, and the values of teamwork.
As a student at Yale Law School in 1974, Lani Guinier attended a class with a white male professor who addressed all the students, male and female, as "gentlemen." To him the greeting was a form of honorific, evoking the values of traditional legal education. To her it was profoundly alienating.
Years later Guinier began a study of female law students with her colleagues, Michelle Fine and Jane Balin, to try to understand the frustrations of women law students in male-dominated schools. Women are now entering law schools in large numbers, but too often many still do not feel welcome. As one says, "I used to be very driven, competitive. Then I started to realize that all my effort was getting me nowhere. I just stopped caring. I am scarred forever."
After interviewing hundreds of women with similar stories, the authors conclude that conventional one-size-fits-all approaches to legal education discourage many women who could otherwise succeed and, even more, fail to help all students realize their full potential as legal problem-solvers.
In Becoming Gentlemen Guinier, Fine, and Balin dare us to question what it means to become qualified, what a fair goal in education might be, and what we can learn from the experience of women law students about teaching and evaluating students in general. Including the authors' original study and two essays and a personal afterword by Lani Guinier, the book challenges us to work toward a more just society, based on ideals of cooperation, the resources of diversity, and the values of teamwork.
- GenresLaw
192 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 19, 2020
Had some good personal statements that I found insightful about the female & ethnic otherness in the law school environment. My take away was to be cut-throat should I ever enter the arena, and not care if I get called a lesbian for being outspoken and participating. LOL
May 12, 2022
I'm glad I took this book off the pile that's been patiently waiting my attention and happy a friend urged me to read it.
When Lani Guinier (1950-2022) attended Yale Law School, a white male professor addressed all the students...as "gentlemen." He explained it to be his custom, an... honorific, evoking traditional legal education's values. In 1974, to her, one of few women or people of color in class, it was profoundly alienating.
Years later, having practiced law and become a law school professor (at Penn), she--with colleagues, Michelle Fine and Jane Balin-- studied of female law students to analyze their frustrations in male-dominated schools. Even as women are seen in larger numbers in law schools and the profession, many still do not yet feel welcome even today.
The essays have Reader understand that a conventional one-size-fits-all approach to legal education discourages many women and fails to help all students realize their professional potential, daring Reader to question what it means to become qualified, what fair educational goals might be, and how the experiences of one generation might improve the teaching and evaluation of law students in subsequent years. Reader is challenged to work toward a more just society, maximizing cooperation, diversity, and teamwork.
The book is not only for lawyers and law students, btw.
When Lani Guinier (1950-2022) attended Yale Law School, a white male professor addressed all the students...as "gentlemen." He explained it to be his custom, an... honorific, evoking traditional legal education's values. In 1974, to her, one of few women or people of color in class, it was profoundly alienating.
Years later, having practiced law and become a law school professor (at Penn), she--with colleagues, Michelle Fine and Jane Balin-- studied of female law students to analyze their frustrations in male-dominated schools. Even as women are seen in larger numbers in law schools and the profession, many still do not yet feel welcome even today.
The essays have Reader understand that a conventional one-size-fits-all approach to legal education discourages many women and fails to help all students realize their professional potential, daring Reader to question what it means to become qualified, what fair educational goals might be, and how the experiences of one generation might improve the teaching and evaluation of law students in subsequent years. Reader is challenged to work toward a more just society, maximizing cooperation, diversity, and teamwork.
The book is not only for lawyers and law students, btw.
August 13, 2008
While I could relate to the bigger message this scholar was conveying, it was the writing style that I did not care for. The book was written in a dry scholarly fashion that left the reader wanting more. Some of the jargon she used was terminology that I was not accustomed to. Therefore, I found myself having to look-up words that are part of the common sociological and psychology parlance. Nevertheless, I am certain that those who have gone on to graduate and/or professional school can definitely relate to this book.
August 16, 2013
Very insightful, but very academic (I know that was the point).
It makes me want to learn more about gender & communication. I would have liked a little more advice for women professionals trying to communicate in a man's world, or at least a few suggestions of where to look.
All in all, I am better for having read it and admire the women whose hard work made it possible.
It makes me want to learn more about gender & communication. I would have liked a little more advice for women professionals trying to communicate in a man's world, or at least a few suggestions of where to look.
All in all, I am better for having read it and admire the women whose hard work made it possible.
May 27, 2010
I got about half way through this book and just could not continue. It's based on a study done about 15 years ago and I felt that it was both dry and repetitive. Way too many other things to read to waste my time finishing this.
October 23, 2007
If you are planning to start law school, or are currently in law school I think you should read this book. Especially, if you are a woman.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews