The Alamo Drafthouse And The Legal Profession

The more inclusive a conference, the more diverse a faculty, the more ideas can hold ground and be communicated.

Health care meetingThe picture to the right shows a group discussing mammograms. Women are missing completely from the group. So are ob-gyns. There are similar pictures of Congressional hearings regarding issues related to women’s health, in which not a single woman is present or testifying.

Contrast that with the “women only” screenings of Wonder Woman. The outrage some men felt sought demand for “equality.” As Fox News, the source of all that is true, reported, one comment on the Alamo Draft House’s Facebook page stated, “Great, let us know when you have guys-only screenings of Thor, Spider-Man, Star Wars, etc.” One viewer on Alamo’s Facebook page wrote, “Let’s see you walk the walk now that you set this precedence.”

Did you not notice the fact he was able to list MORE THAN ONE MOVIE with a man as the main character, even if you completely ignore the fact that Star Wars doesn’t fit the category?

The difference: One involves legislation and the long- and short-term rights of an entire class of people. The other was a one-time showing in a movie theater.

It should come as no shock, then, that Jeena Cho gets a lot of outrage when she calls for gender equality on legal panels, as some men become outraged when they’re told they are mansplaining, being sexist, or racist.  However, the thing that makes them more outraged is when they are treated like women are treated. Isolated, facing barriers, not welcomed, not invited.

In that sense, academia and legal conferences can be to women (since forever) as the Alamo Drafthouse was to men (during that one moment, during that one screening). Only sometimes it cuts worse. Imagine being the only man invited to a women’s-only screening at the Alamo Drafthouse. Imagine being invited because they needed a man to demonstrate they were being “diverse.” Imagine being kicked out halfway through the movie (partner track?). Imagine as everyone is discussing the movie you are ignored, dismissed, or ganged up on.

And that is why the notion of equality is important. The more inclusive a conference, the more diverse a faculty, the more ideas can hold ground and be communicated. Everyone is better off because group decisions and discussions are more fruitful if the participants come from diverse backgrounds (and we’re not just talking about different graduating classes at Harvard law).

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Jeena Cho is the author of The Anxious Lawyer: An 8-Week Guide to a Joyful and Satisfying Law Practice Through Mindfulness and Meditation (affiliate link). She regularly speaks and offers training on mindfulness and meditation. You can reach her at hello@jeenacho.com or @jeena_cho on Twitter.

LawProfBlawg is an anonymous professor at a top 100 law school. You can see more of his musings here and on Twitter. Email him at lawprofblawg@gmail.com.

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