Still Unequal: The Shameful Truth About Women and Justice in America [Hardcover]

Lorraine Dusky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1996

A vigorous and eye-opening investigation focuses on America's legal system and how, at almost every turn, it undermines women's progress. Many female students and women lawyers in legal firms face staggering levels of sexual harrassment. The prejudice, according to Dusky, continues at the police station and the court house, affecting survivors of rape and women just trying to get a fair deal in a divorce.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Dusky examines American legal education, legal practice, and the law and its application and finds all three seriously wanting in the treatment of women. Prompted by a news item about injustices suffered by a divorced mother, Dusky sought out additional examples of sexism and draws sweeping conclusions about the U.S. legal system. While her background as a journalist brings a refreshing perspective, her generalizations and use of extreme situations as representative of the whole substantially weaken her argument. A broader outlook and recognition of the vast differences between the states and of the changes over time could have made her book a valuable and more evenhanded analysis. In addition, this work suffers from what attorneys call "over breadth"; that is, it tries to cover too much. Although Dusky's style will appeal to general readers, her prejudices and occasional inaccuracies make this a marginal purchase.?Suzanne Pierce Dyer, Alameda Cty. Law Lib., Oakland, Cal.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Despite "small progress," journalist Dusky argues that "our legal system is still the most backward, sexist, offensive set of institutions in the country." She examines women's experiences in law school, in legal practice, and as victims, defendants, and plaintiffs in U.S. courtrooms. Dusky researches both academic and popular literature to demonstrate that women--43 percent of law students--remain unwelcome interlopers at many schools. She sketches the history of women in U.S. law schools, challenges the "think like a lawyer" case method, and discusses the major schools' refusal to give tenure to women (especially African American and feminist women). The legal practice section notes women's obstacles to getting hired, becoming a partner, finding time for family, getting credit for their own rainmaking, and dealing with harassment. The book's best section may be the analysis of how the courts treat women: "lady lawyers," but mainly nonlawyers embroiled in divorce, custody, domestic violence, and sexual assault cases. There's nothing lawyerly here; perhaps that's why Dusky sheds light on problems lawyerly types prefer to ignore. Mary Carroll

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 452 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1 edition (October 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517593890
• ISBN-13: 978-0517593899
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,814,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for anyone passionate about justice, June 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Still Unequal: The Shameful Truth About Women and Justice in America (Hardcover)

Dusky's book is simply the very best book of it's kind, bar none. She explains complex issues in amazingly clear language. The book is required reading for all those who are passionate about justice: civilians, lawyers, judges, law professors, ethicists, feminists of both genders, Women's Studies professors and students. I have used this book in a Forensic Psychology graduate class and it was the best textbook we could have had. Phyllis Chesler, Ph.D

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Americans Need To Read This, June 3, 2003

By 

Evelyn Dove Coleman (Charlotte, North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Still Unequal: The Shameful Truth About Women and Justice in America (Hardcover)

I know that it is hard to believe that Still Unequal is applicable in 2003, but it is. Just as Prayers To Survive (Mt. Olive College Press) is still applicable in 2003. They should both be required reading in schools all over America.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Things have not changed in all these years, September 18, 2008

By 

Melva M. Merritt "KC" (Gibsonville, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Still Unequal: The Shameful Truth About Women and Justice in America (Hardcover)

I read the book Still Unequal years ago. In fact I went to a book signing in Hillsborough NC and met the author. A local female attorney told me some members of the Orange Co. Bar advised her not to go and of course she didn't- just had me purchase a copy of Still Unequl for her. This book is just as accurate today as it was when it was first published. In all these years nothing seems to have changed. Every woman should read this book.