Feminist Legal Theory Conference and Colloquia explore the practical application of feminist theory in real-world legal situations.
The Feminist Legal Theory Conference and Colloquia sponsored by the Center on Applied Feminismprovide an opportunity for scholars and audience members to exchange ideas about the current state of feminist legal theories. By holding this fora, the Center's faculty and students hope to deepen the understanding of how feminist legal theory relates to society and to move new insights into practice.
The conference features presentations and sessions regarding current scholarship and/or legal work that explores the application of feminist legal theory to the year's thematic issue. Past keynote speakers have included Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, Dr. Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sheryl WuDunn, Senators Barbara Mikulski and Amy Klobuchar, NOW President Terry O’Neill, EEOC Commissioner Chai Feldblum and Judge Nancy Gertner.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski
Sen. Barbara Mikulski shared her wisdom and insights with us in 2012. She spoke about her path to the Senate and the strong relationships between women senators. She said, "This is why I can assure you that every woman of the Senate, because we span a political ideological spectrum, we think that part of our job is to get out there and talk to people about who we are and what we do, to inspire that next generation to light up that candle with whatever gift you can give." Mikulski, Barbara (2013) "Symposium Dialogue: Keynote Speaker Senator Barbara Mikulski," University of Baltimore Law Review: Vol. 42: Iss. 2, Article 3. Available at http://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/ublr/vol42/iss2/3/
Chai Feldblum
Chai Feldblum, a commissioner at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), delivered a brilliant analysis of gender equity in employment at our 2015 conference. She said: "I believe that to achieve any social justice outcome one needs three variables to converge: law, policies and practice, and social norms....To eradicate sexual harassment, governments must work in partnership with businesses and advocacy groups to develop a proactive and creative strategy that will ultimately change the social norm so every man, every woman and every workplace understands that sexual harassment is not OK." Feldblum, Chai (2016) "University of Baltimore School of Law Center on Applied Feminism's 8th Annual Feminist Legal Theory Conference on Applied Feminism and Work: Keynote Speaker Chai Feldblum, Commissioner, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission," University of Baltimore Law Review: Vol. 45: Iss 2, Article 2. Available at http://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/ublr/vol45/iss2/2/.
