Blog Post #25

In the legal profession there are varying views about the use of sexuality in the workplace. Some women will use their sexuality, and flirt to advance in their career. In Holly English’s book, Gender on Trial, a woman admits that she would wear different length skirts to trial depending on the judge and what she was asking for. There are some who agree that flirting is okay, as long as it is used properly. Most would say that if you are going to use your sexuality to gain in your career, you better have the credibility to back it up in order to avoid stereotypes. It is definitely not a good weapon if they are using it to make up for or hide their shortcomings as a professional. Many men say they are jealous of this advantage but they do suggest using it because it does work. A psychologist that English spoke with said that sexuality absolutely belongs in the work place as long as the person using it knows their boundaries, knows who it is appropriate to use it with, and how to read how these people are reacting to it. The same woman said that if we ignore sexuality we are just opening up a new stereotype that female attorneys are asexual. The truth is humans are sexual beings, and if their sexuality can work to their advantage why not use it? (Within reason of course.) However, this does not suggest sleeping around to move forward, but harmless flirting is okay. Also, this use of sexuality can result in more equity between the sexes.

There are those people in the legal field that consider using their sexuality to their advantage to be taboo. These people generally feel that it de-legitimizes women because it reawakens the stereotype that women’s presence in the workplace is sexual rather than professional. One woman’s concern is that women already have a hard time being taken seriously in a “man’s world,” and using their sexuality will just make them less likely to be taken seriously. Her point is that men already tend to think sexually in general, so adding fuel to their fire is just a bad idea.