Eben, I think I erred in saying I was distracted by the “that’s cute.” It took away from my real point: I do not think you would have called Kate’s statement “cute” had she not been a women, a young women. Even if you would have called a young man cute in class, it would not mean the same thing. Calling a women cute in a quasi-professional or professional setting is entirely different than calling a young man cute. Why? I am not sure. Or maybe I do not think a wiki is a great place to develop grand theory. I understand that it may have been a reflex or a “statement of admiration,” but it was still inappropriate. The classroom is indeed a performance space. I agree with you when you say it is theater like, and it is for this very reason I am troubled by such comments. The classroom is one of the many spaces in which women learn to behave like “women.” Like it or not, classrooms help in the socializing process. So, what do women learn when they are called cute in the classroom. What do women learn when cuteness is positive evaluation in classroom? I would argue nothing great. We are in law school now, so the process is pretty much complete. We have all learned how to behave. I still think it is important to point out instances of somewhat sexist behavior. (notice that I say “somewhat sexist” rather than the more confrontational ”sexist.” I have been well trained) My last post was brief because I am not a big fan of long wiki posts. I was hoping to continue the conversation. In talking about career alternatives, maybe we could talk about the need for more women professors. We could talk about how career paths are shaped by gender. Are there more women in public interest law? Why?

-- ThaliaJulme - 29 Jan 2008

I lost all my paragraph breaks. I really don't know how to use this thing

-- ThaliaJulme - 29 Jan 2008