High Heels in the Courtroom

Ok, so I have not actually been in a courtroom other than when I interned or watched hearings, but my point is, its tough to be a woman in a male-dominated office, and profession for that matter. While its true that women are graduating in higher numbers from law school than men, the law is still predominalty a man's domain.

I feel like I have to be better, faster, more efficient. Autopsies cannot gross me out, I cannot get emotionally attached to the cases, and even when I am stressed, tired, and bloated, I cannot cry.  I have to show that I am as strong and smart as they are.  Write the best motions, draft the best discovery, and summarize a depo like its nobody's business! And do this all while putting myself together every morning and looking the part, but not too sexy, or young, but too old, or frumpy... (you'd be amazed at how much thought goes into my wardrobe).

Add to this stress, the fact that I am a wife. I still have to cook, clean, and make sure hubs doesn't walk out of the house in shorts when its 32 degrees (which he does). And someday, yes someday I want to have kids. At 29, my maternal instincts are screaming at me. But how does that affect work?

Being a woman with a career is hard, but being a woman-lawyer is even harder. You are expected to be tough like a man, but gentle enough that a jury will like you. I  have to gain respect from my peer without being a bitch. I am friends with the administrative staff, but I am still over them. I struggle with the line between confidant and cocky everyday.

Fear not though ladies (women, females, whatever term you choose) its OK to be a woman in the courtroom. Recognize your strengths, speak your mind, and set boundaries. Know that men and women inherently are different: we approach life from a different angle. Men and women seek answers in different ways, and that is ok. Just because you don't skin the cat the same way as your male counterpart, does not man the result is not as good.


So, here I am in my high, but not so high that I look like a stripper, female working her way towards the courtroom, one step at a time. ~The Illegal Blonde