The Critically Acclaimed 10-Part TV Series by FX, The
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The critically acclaimed 10-part The People v. OJ Simpson took front of the jury during opening TV series by FX, The People v. O.J. place in the middle of the 1990s, statement.” She was “appalled on Simpson: American Crime Story, a time where the word “feminist” a daily basis on [sic] his behavior. revisits the legal soap opera was considered an insult. On every level.” which, according to a certain “Because the sexism—The S- narrative, concluded in the word. Nobody wanted to talk The majority of conversations miscarriage of justice. For many about that.” said Clark while regarding Ms. Clark and the of us, our most vivid praising Ryan Murphy, the Simpson trial were not about her recollections of the “trial of the director of the series, for being skills as the lead prosecutor in a century” included issues of race, brave enough for examining the high profile case. Rather, people classism, celebrity, and the gender dynamics of the infamous ridiculed her tight black permed emergence of the 24-hour news trial. The public’s criticisms of hair, her “dowdy” suits, and the system. Yet, flagrant gender Ms. Clark mirrored the societal dark-circles under her eyes. The discrimination endured by female tendencies women are expected discrimination she faced in the lead prosecutor Marcia Clark was to possess – to be delicate and courtroom was dismissed by the at the forefront of this landmark less assertive. Ms. Clark explained media as a joke about her bad case. The relentless scrutiny “People would try to give me haircut and lack of makeup. The placed on Ms. Clark by the public advice like, ‘You shouldn’t come tabloids focused on the custody and her male peers in the across tough. Wear pastels. Talk battles waged by her ex-husband courtroom, including Judge softer.’” While some level of over their two young sons, her Lance Ito, Johnnie Cochran, and gamesmanship and combative alleged failure to be a good Robert Shapiro, has finally been behavior was expected from mother, her prior marriages, and brought to light in the series’ opposing counsel, Ms. Clark her inability to work late in order sixth episode, “Marcia, Marcia, recalls being treated like a second to get home to her children at a Marcia.” class citizen by Judge Ito, even reasonable time. The culmination being called out for wearing a of the public’s internalized short skirt. “I remember him misogyny came with the interrupting me, upbraiding me in publication of topless photos of TMNews www.tysonmendes.com Ms. Clark, sold to the National must be discussed as breathlessly Enquirer five months into trial by as their appearances. With the her ex-husband’s mother. Unlike “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” episode, Ms. Clark, her male peers never director Ryan Murphy has had to worry about having nude offered Ms. Clark redemption in photographs published, being the court of public opinion as a mocked for having dark circles platform to discuss the issues under their eyes, or enduring women still face in the criticism for being a working workplace. We are now able to parent. reflect on our egregious behavior against Ms. Clark and hopefully A recent survey conducted by the make strides to ensure it never Harvard Law School’s Center on happens again. the Legal Profession regarding gender bias in law firms, entitled Tyson & Mendes committed to The Women and Men of Harvard the advancement of women at Law School: Preliminary Results from the inception of the firm in 2002. the HLS Career Study, concluded We are currently led by 8 partners while women at law firms work across our offices, 4 of which are more hours than men, they are female. Females comprise 51% of significantly less likely to be in our attorney staff. leadership positions, such as equity partners. The study found Recent growth has inspired us to female partners are twice as likely champion gender equality and the as male partners to have no advancement of women children. Compared to their male throughout the legal and peers, women report significantly insurance industry through our more work place consequences Women’s Initiative. To learn for having children, such as loss more about Tyson & Mendes of seniority. Women partners are Women’s Initiative, click here. also reported to be less likely to be married than male partners. ABOUT THE AUTHOR The study also found women are Pari H. Granum is an associate at more likely to report feeling Tyson & Mendes. Ms. Granum discriminated against in the specializes in personal injury and workplace as a result of their premises liability litigation. gender. Contact Pari at 858.263.4067 or [email protected]. While we would like to think we have come a long way from the Marcia Clark days where female attorneys were ridiculed for having responsibilities at home as mothers or being called a “b***h” for being as assertive in the courtroom, the abovementioned survey indicates otherwise. The issues women face as working professionals TMNews www.tysonmendes.com .