Center on Applied Feminism
The Center on Applied Feminism serves as a bridge between feminist legal theory and the law.
Unique within the legal academy, the Center seeks to apply feminist insights to legal practice
The Sixth Annual Feminist Legal Theory Conference
Podcast is NOW AVAILABLE!!!!
and the policy arena. In particular, the Center will examine how feminist theory can benefit legal practitioners in representing clients, shape legal doctrine, and play a role in policy debates and implementation. The Center has faculty affiliates from throughout the University.
Please explore the links below to learn more about the work of the Center.
Annual Feminist Legal Theory Conference
Maya Angelou. Applied Feminism: How Feminist Legal Theory is Changing the Law 2009
U.S. Senator Mikulski. Applied Feminism and Democracy 2012
Toni Morrison. Applying Feminism Globally 2011
Applied Feminism and Marginalized Communities 2010
We welcome participation at our conferences.
The Center on Applied Feminism sponsors an annual scholarly symposium on feminist legal theory that is anchored by a prominent featured speaker.
The University of Baltimore was honored to welcome U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski as keynote speaker for this year's feminist legal theory conference. We are happy to provide a recording of this year's events:
- Introductions and Keynote U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski;
- Applying Feminist Perspectives to the Making and Interpretation of Laws Impacting Families and Relationships;
- Examining the Challenges Facing Women as Leaders and Lawyers in Democracies;
- Exploring the Possibilities When Feminism and Law Collide;
- Reflecting on the Experiences of Muslim Women as the Arab Spring Moves to Winter; and Closing Remarks.
Previous conferences have featured Toni Morrison, Gloria Steinem and Maya Angelou.
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Colloquia
The Center on Applied Feminism hosts speakers and presentations throughout the academic year by scholars, activists, legislators, and attorneys.
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Research and Scholarship
Many faculty members at the University of Baltimore Law School publish in the area of feminist legal theory, gender and the law, and other critical legal theories. Below are links to the scholarship produced by faculty in this area. In addition, the websites to the feminist legal theory conferences above provide links to the abstracts and papers presented at the conferences.
Michele Gilman, SSRN Author Page for Michele Gilman
Leigh Goodmark, SSRN Author Page for Leigh Goodmark
Margaret E. Johnson, SSRN Author Page for Margaret E. JohnsonThe Center provides roundtables for regional and national scholars to present works-in-progress and obtain feedback on their scholarly projects.
In addition, the Center on Applied Feminism guest blogs on feminist legal theory websites: http://feministlawprofessors.com/
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Community Outreach
The Center partners with legal organizations and non-profits that work on issues related to gender and feminist legal theory. The Center works to support the agendas of these organizations by providing these organizations with student interns and research support. Such organizations include the following:
Planned Parenthood of Maryland
Women's Law Center of Maryland
The Center partners with state and national legislators who focus on issues relating to gender in order to pursue a feminist legislative agenda and provide information, research, and other support to such efforts. On May 4, 2010, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed into effect a new law that was spearheaded by the Center on Applied Feminism, in conjunction with UB Law's Civil Advocacy and Family Law Clinics and a number of community non-profit organizations. The law provides new housing protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. On October 27, 2010, the Center along with the Family Law Clinic, Civil Advocacy Clinic and the community non-profit organizations are hosting a discussion regarding the coalition's work to create and effectively lobby for this legislation. More information is available in this press release.
On Friday, January 28, 2011, the Center on Applied Feminism at the University of Baltimore School of Law held a community feminist networking event. The event sought to bring together organizations working on legal issues affecting gender in Maryland. The Center hopes that the meeting will help foster coalitions for similar future feminist work and identify additional projects in which the Center and our law students could be helpful in supporting other feminist efforts. The Center's goal is to collaborate with other organizations working on gender-based reforms to effectuate change in our state and nationally.
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Book Discussion Series
The Center on Applied Feminism sponsors a feminist reading group for interested UB faculty, staff and students. The group meets at least twice a semester to discuss both classic and current books related to feminist theory.
Past Reading Group Selections:Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid
The Alchemy of Race and Rights: Diary of a Mad Law Professor by Patricia Williams
Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare by Dorothy Roberts
Yes Means Yes!: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape by Jaclyn Friedman and Jessica Valenti The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan A Mercy by Toni Morrison A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein A Troubled Marriage: Domestic Violence and the Legal System by Leigh Goodmark Girls Like Us by Rachel Llyod Webber -
Outside events of interest and relevant websites
Please let us know of any exciting outside events for us to post here.
Outside Events
CALL FOR PAPERS: UB Feminist Legal Theory Conference, 2013 -- "Applied Feminism and Families CALL FOR PAPERS: International Conference on Feminism and the Law: Revisiting the Past, Rethinking the Present & Thinking the Way Forward.
Pursuing Diversity in the New Economy: A Shared Responsibility
Gender Justice and Indian Sovereignty: Native American Women and the Law Conference
Seminar: Silvia Federici on "Feminism, the Commons, neoliberal violence and the edu-crisis"
Relevant Websites
The Doing Business Gender Law Library
Home Should be a Safe Place Initiative
Selction on Women in Legal Education Mentoring Program for Professors