Women Lawyers Bristol

Taking big strides: Eradicating micro aggressions to achieve gender equality in the legal profession

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women and to contribute to a growing global community committed to take action on gender equality.

In March 2022, the Law Society will be focusing its international discussion on the topic of eradicating micro aggressions as a way of achieving gender equality in the legal profession.

Micro aggressions are defined as subtle slights, which can be offensive or hurtful. There are varying categories of workplace micro aggressions and the most common are micro-assaults, microinsults and microinvalidations. Each type can have a lasting impact on the person’s ability to experience belonging, social acceptance, self-esteem, and overall well-being. One of the defining characteristics of micro aggressions is how difficult, frustrating, or risky they can be to confront. In recent times, there has been greater exposure to many forms of micro aggressions and a new awareness about their detrimental impact.

To create a more equal and balanced profession, we all need to take responsibility, be more understanding, and learn to be self-reflective whenever we are biased. For that reason, the purpose of this session will be to discuss:

• What are micro aggressions? What are some examples of these micro aggressions? What might be the specific impact of each?
• To what extent are you aware of how often you and/or others around you use micro aggressions when speaking with or about others of another gender, race, etc.?
• What are the risks associated with confronting micro aggressions?
• How can we, as lawyers, contribute to becoming more self-aware of micro-aggressions to eliminate them from our language?

Sign up here.

I.Stephanie Boyce will talk about her journey to becoming the first President of colour of the Law Society, the barriers that she has and continues to break down. Stephanie is determined to inspire everyone, regardless of their background, to join the solicitor profession, should they wish to do so.

Registration is now open for this upcoming virtual event from UWE as part of their Spring Bristol Distinguished Address Series line up.

Find out more information and sign up here.

According to UN Women, sexual harassment, and other forms of sexual violence in public spaces, both in urban and rural settings, are an everyday occurrence for women and girls in every country around the world. Women and girls experience and fear different forms of sexual violence in public spaces, from unwelcome sexual remarks and gestures, to rape and femicide. It happens on streets, in and around public transportation, schools, workplaces, public toilets, water and food distribution sites, and parks.

Depending on the social circumstances – where and how we live – women gather experiences of safety and danger, which are based on the everyday violence in the public sphere, negatively impacting their physical and mental well-being. A recent survey for UN Women UK found that 71% of women of all ages in the UK said they had experienced sexual harassment in public spaces, of which men are overwhelmingly the perpetrators. According to the OECD, violence against women (VAW) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) constitutes a pervasive issue, which culminates into high rates of femicides – or feminicides. The LAC region holds the highest rates of femicide around the world. In 2018, 3,529 women were killed across the entire region because of their gender.

In the Middle East and North Africa, 40–60 per cent of women have experienced street-based sexual harassment. Women said the harassment was mainly sexual comments, stalking or following, or staring or ogling. Liberia recorded a 50% increase in gender-based violence in the first half of this year. Between January and June, there were more than 600 reported rape cases. The number for the whole of 2018 was 803 in the West African country.

This event is organised with the Institute for African Women in Law.

Find out more and sign up here.

There are a number of risk areas that could be affected if firms do not consider and integrate EDI into their processes and risk management frameworks; increasingly there are reputational and financial risk if companies are not taking steps on EDI, as well as increasing potential to affect firms’ Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) too.

This Law Society webinar will provide advice and case studies on what small to medium firms can do to ensure compliance and progressive diversity and inclusion practices. The discussion will explore the importance of including EDI within risk management frameworks. It will consider: the legal risks and employee expectations around EDI; client demands for better EDI practice from firms and how it can help you get and retain business; and the importance of creating inclusive and supportive cultures for improved staff mental health and well-being, better decision-making and ethical conduct.

You will hear from a range of professionals in the sector to explore the full range of EDI topics and issues that firms need to consider in their risk frameworks and policy structures.

This event aims to address all elements that firms should consider in their planning and operations going forward to mainstream EDI as an important component in risk management.

The webinar will go live from 2.00pm – 3.00pm on Thursday 2 December 2021. 

Find out more information and book your place here.