Survey of female attorneys of color
As a woman attorney of color, I often feel like the most exotic thing in the business. I seldom see other women of color attorneys outside of minority bar association events. I can only think of one woman attorney of color who has served as opposing counsel in any of the dozens of cases I've litigated in the last six years I've held this job. I ran into a few more when I practiced in California, years ago, but not so many even then. I've never worked before a woman of color judge or arbitrator. I've never had a woman of color for co-counsel, though I've worked with numerous white men and women and a few men of color in this capacity. Today I work in a progressive and diverse organization with offices around the country and nearly a hundred people in positions like mine; I am the only Latina.
Typically I am very aware of the surprise (even shock) other attorneys register when they meet me in a professional setting for the first time. I'm very brown and I wear my hair according to the tradition of my Dine heritage, meaning uncut and very long. I insist on the correct pronunciation of my Spanish surname. Most folks can't be sure from looking what my ethnic/racial background is (which doesn't stop them from asking inappropriate and clumsy personal questions), but they certainly can tell I am not white.
…So I signed up right away when I heard the American Bar Association is conducting its first ever survey of women of color attorneys. They need a whole lot of women to sign up and tell about our experiences. I'm spreading the word to the handful of women of color attorneys I know in person, but I thought I'd post the info here, too, in case this reaches someone I don't know or know how to contact. To register as a study participant, go here.
