Law Students

A false dicotomy: Husband-shopping vs. Serious Professional

By Peg

There is a post from last week on a blog called "Hiring Partner's Office" that seemingly gives sage advice about building your law firm reputation.  The hypothetical is about two women associates.  One is "pleasant, cheerful" and career focused.  The other does "seemingly solid work" but isn't social.  The post is decent until the point where the author accuses the second (and more inferior) associate of possibly working at the firm just to land a "rich hubby".!!!  What!!!  This point is questioned by a couple of the commentors and earned the post a link on corporette.com.

This scenario makes me very angry.  Obviously the husband-shopping comment by the poster was not necessary.  But, it is a symptom and not the problem.  It is a symptom of a profession that questions the motives of women who work within it.  It is a symptom of a society that still wonders why women would pursue high-powered careers.   It is also a symptom of a culture that allows this poster (aka "Hiring Partner") to let this thought role of his/her tongue when writing a post designed to be helpful and not hurtful.  I wonder what this person is thinking that doesn't get through the filter??

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Full post as published by Ms. JD on December 08, 2008 (boomark / email).