Gender Inequality in the Courts

 I read this article entitled "Gender Inequality in the Courts," and found it quite interesting. It is a guide for the all of New Mexico state and federal courts. In the reading it provided specific examples of gender bias presented in the court. These included:
"1. A tendency by some judges to treat female lawyers with greater deference and courtesy than male lawyers. Male lawyers tend to see this behavior as favoritism toward their female counterparts. Female lawyers often find this behavior condescending and paternalistic.

2. Lack of sensitivity in the types of questions asked of victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence. Questions to a battered spouse about what she did to provoke a beating, or why she returned to the home, refl ect biased assumptions. When impaneling jurors, judges should be sensitive to the types of questions about the juror’s work, so that the nature of that work is not demeaned. Work within the home is no less important than work outside the home.

3. When judges look less alert and attentive, fail to take notes, or assume a bored expression when a woman speaks, they convey in a powerful way the message that women’s presentations are less important than those of men.

4. Some judges may be hesitant to respond assertively to gender-biased misconduct that occurs in their presence. If male attorneys engage in blatant or subtle forms of gender bias toward female attorneys or witnesses, it is important that the judge intervene to stop such behavior. Behavior or statements which are demeaning to women must be excluded from the courtroom. A firm reminder from the judge at the first instance of inappropriate behavior will tend to stop it, without major disruption to the proceedings or embarrassment to the woman."

These four are great examples of gender inequality in the courts.
http://www.nmbar.org/attorneys/lawpubs/genderequality.pdf