XVIII ISA World Congress of Sociology (July 13-19, 2014)

July 13 - 19, 2014

228

Gender and the Legal Professions

RC12 Sociology of Law (host committee)

Language: English

Since the end of World War II many countries around the world have seen an increase in the number and proportion of women in the legal professions. In Asia this is a trend that is just becoming apparent as Japan and Korea have recently changed their legal educational systems to more closely align with that of the United States and consequently more women than ever before have been passing the bar. What contributes to this phenomenon? Is it driven by the progress of gender equality in the societies in these countries or is this a mere by-product of other changes in the societies, such as an expansion of general or legal education for women? Is there a cumulative effect of complex societal changes that have taken place? What are the driving forces behind these changes? With the increase in the number and proportion of women, in what forms does gender disparity still exist in the legal professions in Asia? Do women encounter a "glass ceiling" in prestigious law firms, the judiciary, prosecutors' offices, in-house legal departments of large corporations, law schools, and other institutions? Is there a feminization of the legal profession in Asia resulting in lower salaries and status as more women take their places in the field of law? If such is the case, what are the factors in the society that are hindering the attainment of gender equality in the legal professions? For countries around the world with relative gender equality in the legal professions, how was this achieved? Are there still any challenges or difficulties faced by women legal professionals as compared with men in the same profession? If such is the case, what are the reasons? What are the challenges and difficulties? Have there been any influential women in the legal professions despite the existence of gender inequality? What have they achieved? How did they overcome the hurdles they faced? This session intends to provide an opportunity for scholars and researchers around the world to meet and share their research findings in relation to the issue of gender equality in the legal professions. It aims to broaden and deepen our understanding of this issue in the Asian context.