Typecast Socialization: Race, Gender, and Competing Expectations in Law School

• In Event: 130 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 05. Race and Ethnicity in Education

Abstract

Asian American women and Latina law students express apprehension about their entrance into an elite, mainstream profession. Assumptions about family/work priorities and gendered expectations of legal practice affect how these women think about their futures in this demanding career. Based on interviews with 63 women of color at two law schools, Western Tier 1 and Metro Tier 4, I argue that these students experience “typecast socialization” wherein they internalize the messages they receive through legal culture, law school, role models, and “real world” work experiences. While students at both institutions undergo such socialization, those from Metro Tier 4 possess a positive outlook.

Author

• Yung-Yi Diana Pan, City University of New York-Brooklyn College