Student Commentary

Who Runs the World?

Growing up, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing women – my mom, grandmothers, aunts, family-friends – they made being strong look easy. The moment I began to feel the responsibility of being a woman was when I was 9-years-old and my little sister was born. I saw her for the first time and from that day on, I wanted to be the best version of myself for her. Girls need role models to look up to. If they don’t see women in the legal profession, they might not think they are capable of being lawyers – which could not be further from the truth. Representation is key for change to occur. Women throughout history have worked tirelessly to gain many of the rights we enjoy today. I feel that it is our generation’s responsibility to continue their work and strive for true equality.

While interning at Susan G. Komen Philadelphia, I saw first-hand how crucial the fight for women’s rights is and what can be achieved when women work together toward a common goal. Women of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds would call the office for more information on free mammograms because they could not afford one any other way. Whether these women were uninsured or underinsured, they had the courage to reach out for help and potentially save their lives. Susan G. Komen was established to protect these women. My experience working for this organization inspired me to educate others and expose the ways in which women and men are treated differently under the law and in day-to-day life.

No matter if the subject is health care, equal pay, or reproductive rights, there is still a lot more to be said about achieving equal rights for women. Attending Temple Law was my opportunity to be part of this conversation.

When I came to Temple Law, I wanted to be involved with organizations on campus. I became  a first-year representative for the Women’s Law Caucus, and now serve as the Special Events Co-Chair. WLC plays an important part in supporting future women attorneys. This organization hosts events that give women a safe space to discuss challenges in the workplace. It also provides mentors for students to have a personal connection in the law school and highlights alumni who have fought for women’s rights – all furthering equality of women in the legal profession and beyond. One speaker who stood out to me was Sophia Lee, Esq., Partner at Blank Rome. She made me proud to be a woman in the legal profession. While she briefly spoke of times when she struggled being a woman attorney, she focused on the fact that she had found a company that supported her – as a woman and mother.

As a board member of the Temple University Young Alumni Association, I had the opportunity to attend the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. In a room with 12,000 women,  I felt the energy of change and the readiness to fight for equality. The two statements that have stayed with me from this event came from some of the most powerful women in the world.

“I belong in any room I am in.” – Shonda Rhimes

“…You get a seat at the table and you realize that the people around it are no smarter with no better ideas.” – Michelle Obama

The conference reminded me why I wanted to go to law school and affirmed our ability to make an impact. As soon-to-be lawyers, we possess the power to change the representation of women in classrooms, courthouses, and conference rooms. According to US News & World Report, women make up 52.8% of the student population at Temple Law. Let’s keep showing young girls of the world that women lawyers aren’t only in the room, but are sitting at the head of the table.

 

Questions about this post? Drop us a line at lawcomm@temple.edu.