Abstract

Holly English's book, Gender on Trial: Sexual Stereotypes and Work/Life Balance in the Legal Workplace, offers a very interesting, albeit mostly anecdotal, look at the many real or perceived sexual stereotypes in the legal workplace. Her book is the result of interviews with 180 lawyers (fifty of them men) over a two-year period in all regions of the country. Her main purpose of the book was to "explore the fact that persistent gender stereotypes present a continuing obstacle that obstructs the availability of broad opinions and choices for men and women lawyers." Through eight substantive chapters, she seeks to explore a variety of stereotypes present in the legal workplace, from stereotypes that question women's competency, to sex (literally) in the workplace, and finally, the ever-present work/life balance that affects all attorneys but plagues working mothers most. While some of the issues are unique to the legal workplace, many other industries would find value in the information contained in English's book. Much of the book is anecdotal and descriptive in nature. However, when English does offer her analysis of the various stereotypes and their effect on the workplace, it is both insightful and precise.

This abstract has been adapted from the author's introduction.

Document Type

Book Review

Publication Date

Winter 2004

Publication Information

6 University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor and Employment Law 467-485 (2004)

Comments

Reviewing Holly English's Gender on Trial: Sexual Stereotypes and Work/Life Balance in the Legal Workplace (2003).

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