Study Reveals Women Lawyers Less Likely To Make Partner

[Rage for Order]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080530/lf_nm_life/women_lawyers_dc;_ylt=AknivcdRcj6Y76HzSK6cl1Gs0NUE

Researchers from the University of Iowa found women who practiced in a firm for five or more years were 13 percent less likely than men to make partner -- even if their qualifications were equal and regardless of whether they had children.

The study was based on data collected from two groups of Michigan Law School graduates -- the classes of 1972-78 and 1979-85 -- who completed surveys one year, five years and 15 years after graduation.

snip

Virtually all -- 90 percent -- of female lawyers reported experiencing sexual discrimination from colleagues or clients, with discrimination as subtle as not inviting a female colleague to social events where business is discussed.

"Older men tend to feel less comfortable spending time with a young woman than with a young man. With the guys, it's more of a father-son bond -- let's play some golf, let's hit happy hour, and I'll give you some advice about your career and see what I can do to help you," said Noonan. She said the study showed that less than half of partners in law firms were happy with their work-family balance so it's possible some women decided to avoid that stress and left.


More at the link, including breakdowns of the polling statistics

[hisownpetard]

1. Maybe that partner is just plain ugly...

:hide:

[papau]

2. Less Likely To Make Partner" - can we relate this to no VP offer to Hill despite Mich poll showing O

needs her to win Michigan?

[Berry Cool]

3. Firms really have to do a lot to help women along the way

because that old boys' club really does make it harder for them. So does the often unwritten and unspoken, but very persistent, expectation that if they have children, they won't be as ambitious or driven about making partner.

They need a good support network that will encourage them not to set their sights lower or exclude them from the boys' club just because they're women. One that will keep them from feeling as if they have to be Superwoman to juggle all their responsibilities and find ways to help them keep their careers on track rather than letting them be derailed.

[qijackie]

4. No surprise. It's called still heavily entrenched sexual discrimination.

[Rage for Order]

7. I don't know if I'd refer to 13% less likely as "heavily entrenched" n/t

[TaffyMoon]

5. Or Get A Partner!

:nopity: :nopity:

[Warpy]

6. Associated study: water is wet

They needed another study to tell them about the glass ceiling?

It seems like it's been done before many times.

Too many men out there have simply not progressed beyond the age of ten and the ramshackle "clubhouse" out in the woods with the badly spelled "no girls allowed" sign on it.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Only TWO of SIXTEEN op-ed writers on the Wash Post is female. Can't be sexism! nt