Feminist Law Forum
The Feminist Law Forum is a student organization dedicated to fostering gender equality, both in the law school, and in the legal profession at large. To this purpose, the organization is involved in programs designed to educate its members, as well as the IU Law School community in general on feminist thought, to support diversity in the community, and to improve the educational environment. The organizations sponsors an annual blood drive, an "Equal Pay Day Bake Sale", and a mentoring program for its members, among other events and programs. The Feminist Law Forum welcomes all students interested in feminist issues.
A committed group of law students began the Feminist Law Forum in the Spring of 1999 because of a perceived need for an organization that would take a strong stand against sexism in the law school and the legal profession. Despite the important strides made in the past few decades, sexism is still a significant problem in the legal profession. As a recent study by the Indiana Bar revealed, "[d]isparate treatment of men and women is found in the courtroom, in salary levels, in opportunities for advancement, and in the day-to-day interchange among colleagues."
Because sexism still exists in the legal profession and in America's law schools, the FLF is committed to educating our members and the IU law school community about feminist legal thought, to supporting diversity in the law school, and to making practical changes in the law school that will improve the educational environment for all students. Current and ongoing projects include:
- Administering a mentoring program for our members
- Working with the administration to place a portrait of a notable woman graduate in the classrooms
- Hosting a discussion based on the law review article "What Every First-Year Female Law Student Should Know"
- Educating ourselves and the law school community about sexual harassment
- Working with faculty and students to combat sexism, racism, and heterosexism in the classroom.
The FLF welcomes all students who are interested in feminist issues. We believe that the efforts of both men and women are important in the fight against sexism.