Professor Meera E. Deo's new book on race and gender in the legal academy raises too many important issues to adequately recognize here. Nonetheless, I will try. The book uses empirical data from her Diversity in Legal Academia project, which looks to be the first formal empirical study of law professors that puts women of color at the center of the research. Meera talked with almost 100 law professors—including 63 women of color who are Black, Latina, Asian American, Native American, Middle Eastern, and multiracial.
Findings from Professor Deo’s project reveal that women of color in legal academia—who comprise only 7% of all law professors—experience ongoing raceXgender challenges. Colleagues engage in mansplaining, hepeating, and silencing while students push back in the classroom as well as though anonymous attacks in course evaluations. Hiring and leadership challenges abound, both because few women of color feel they “belong” in these positions and due to outright discrimination and implicit bias. Few have mastered work/life balance, with expectations that they will provide extra service on campus and take charge of the household at home.
The book shares individual strategies that can help—including credentializing oneself so students know their professor’s worth or finding mentors (including those with different backgrounds) to smooth the path. Structural solutions are also important: from out-of-the-box recruiting strategies to being actively committed and purposeful about prioritizing diversity and inclusion.
Here is also a wonderful interview with the author where she discusses the book further:
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