Center on Applied Feminism
Mission:
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 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
The Center on Applied Feminism sponsors an annual scholarly symposium on feminist legal theory that is anchored by a prominent keynote speaker. During her remarks at the University of Baltimore School of Law's second annual feminist legal theory conference on March 6, 2009, Dr. Angelou read from her poem "Our Grandmothers," originally published in I Shall Not Be Moved. She graciously suggested that the School of Law make the poem available in its entirety on the conference's website.
Please view the Call For Papers for the Third Annual Feminist Legal Theory Conference, or revisit past conferences.
Colloquia
The Center on Applied Feminism hosts speakers and presentations throughout the academic year by scholars, activists, legislators, and attorneys.
Dorothy E. Roberts, author of the acclaimed book Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare, and the Kirkland & Ellis Professor of Law at Northwestern University School of Law, will present her recent scholarship to University of Baltimore Law Faculty and hold a separate discussion session with law students as part of the University of Baltimore Distinguished Law Speakers Series. Professor Roberts' visit on Friday, March 26, 2010, is co-sponsored by the Center on Applied Feminism and the University of Baltimore Law Faculty Research and Development Committee.
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. Johnson
The 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/
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 Clinic 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.
Book Discussion Series
The Center on Applied Feminism sponsors a feminist reading group for interested UB faculty, staff, and students. The group meets twice a semester to discuss both classic and current books related to feminist theory. The next book is Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by bell hooks and Ellen P. Shapiro. We will meet at 5 West Chase Street on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at noon. Lunch will be provided, so RSVPs are required. Please RSVP to Shannon Dawkins. We hope to see you there!