On January 28, the Faculty of Law co-hosted an event with the U of T Women and the Law Society celebrating 75 years of the modern law school. The event, called “Empowering the Future: 75 Barrier Breaking Years of Women in Law,” featured an incredible panel of alumnae including: the Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella, Dean Emerita Mayo Moran, Amma Anaman (JD/MBA 2012), Atrisha Lewis (JD 2012), and the Honourable Anita Anand. The conversation was guided, with joy, humour, and wit, by Professor Brenda Cossman.
Each year, International Women’s Day pulls my mind in two directions. Unfortunately, but importantly, it reminds me of the struggles women continue to face and how far we are from substantive gender equality. The day highlights the injustices, inequalities, and barriers that persist for women in both subtle and overt ways. From women’s underrepresentation in firm partnerships to the global rise of the “anti-gender” movement to gender-based violence and harassment, there is still so much work to do.
On the other hand, International Women’s Day also serves as a celebration. It’s an opportunity to honour the successes and triumphs of the women who paved the way before me. As we were reminded during the panel, women make up 56 % of this year’s incoming 1L class—a truly remarkable statistic. Having recently attended the panel, this International Women’s Day felt more uplifting than usual, despite all that’s happening in the world. Learning of the incredible accomplishments of all the panelists brought me hope. The panel also reminded me of the strength that comes from community-building and the feeling of collective joy.
Before the panel, I watched as dozens of alumnae reconnected with one another. These women didn’t have the experience of seeing women make up more than half of their law school class, but it was clear that they shared meaningful friendships and connections—even though some had not seen each other since law school. Excitedly, they embraced one another and shared stories about their families and careers. The strength of their connections and the resilience they exuded was truly inspiring. I could only imagine how wonderful it must have been to return to your alma mater and witness the tangible progress in women’s representation. It reminded me how truly privileged I am to attend law school at a time when the majority of my peers are women, I can take classes like Gender Equality in the Transnational Legal Perspective with Professor Rebecca Cook or Reproductive Rights and Justice with Dr. Michele Goodwin, and, most importantly, where I feel a sense of belonging at the law school and in the legal profession.
As we continue to move forward in our legal careers, I urge all of us to remember that our actions matter and have an impact. As the Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella said during the panel: “leaders, in institutions and organizations, you have a responsibility to look over your shoulder and understand how what you do impacts those who work with you.”
Editor’s Note: Alexandra Beck is the co-President of the Women and the Law Society.