WOMEN-CENTERED SCHOLARSHIP

At Louisville Law, we are fortunate to have faculty and students who are interested in exploring and celebrating the role of women in the law and in civil discourse. Below are a few examples of events from the past year that focused on women as changemakers.

COMPARATIVE #METOO MOVEMENT

Professor JoAnne Sweeny spent the 2018-19 academic year at the University of Turku in Finland as a Fulbright Scholar. While there, she taught two classes, Comparative Constitutional Law and Freedom of Expression. She also presented her research on comparative #MeToo movements in the United States and Europe and joined a feminist legal scholarship group.

In January 2020, she presented “The #MeToo Movement in Comparative Perspective” for Louisville Law’s Faculty Speaker Series.

WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF BLACK WOMEN IN ITS HISTORY

This year marks the centennial of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote nationally. The story of the long battle too often excludes the role of Black women who played significant roles in the ratification efforts.

Organized by Professors Les Abramson and Laura Rothstein, this panel conversation gave a general overview of the suffrage movement both nationally and in Kentucky and reframed that history by telling the stories of some of the key “hidden figures” of the movement. It connected that history to the voting rights activities of the 1960s and voting in 2020 and the Black Lives Matter movement. Professor Enid Trucios- Haynes contributed to the panel.

ABA 19TH AMENDMENT EXHIBIT

Louisville Law was proud to host this exhibit from the American Bar Association.

“100 Years After the 19th Amendment: Their Legacy, and Our Future” featured historic photos and artifacts and details the story of the battle for ratification and outlines the challenges that remain.

The exhibit was on display in the Law Library in September, along with a curated collection of related publications by Professor Robin Harris.

WOMEN’S LAW CAUCUS DISPLAY

In recognition of Women’s History Month in March, the Women’s Law Caucus at Louisville Law asked law school student organizations to participate in a celebration of women who have made their mark in various areas of the law and society. The exhibit was on display at the law school in early March.

“We can recognize the strides we’ve made and what it took to fight,” says caucus President Maha Danyal (pictured above, second from the left), noting the importance of intersectionality.

JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG DISPLAY

The Law Library is featuring an exhibit about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The display includes photos and other items from her February 11, 2003, visit to the law school, as well the Brandeis Dinner later that evening, where she received the Brandeis Medal. The display also features items from later in her career, after she became known as The Notorious RBG.

The display will be up until the end of the Fall 2020 semester.