On Friday, February 21, Penn Law hosted its 33rd annual Edward Sparer Symposium titled “Gender and Social Inequalities: Why Women’s Rights Still Matter.” Presenters discussed a range of topics, including domestic violence, sexism, women in immigration, and trafficking women.
Speakers included Carol Tracy, executive director of the Women’s Law Project in Philadelphia, and Soraya Chemaly, a woman’s activist and writer for the Huffington Post, Salon, and CNN.
Both speakers emphasized that women’s rights are still relevant and important. The issues, now beyond basic equality and fairness, are about ongoing cultural bias and inequality. There was also a detailed discussion about laws helping to protect victims of domestic violence, rape, and abuse.
Whitney Viets, a Toll Public Interest Scholar who helped organize the event explained, “The issue of women’s rights are still incredibly important in the political and social landscape, and we wanted to highlight ongoing discrimination and discuss a potential solution.”
The Sparer Symposium occurs every year in honor of the late Ed Sparer, who was a Professor of Law and Social Policy at the Law School. The event helps to continue Sparer’s legacy and passion for public service.Past Sparer Symposium topics include Immigration Advocacy, “Partnering Against Poverty,” and “Crime in the city.”
The Gender and Social Equality symposium @PennLaw is TODAY! Keynote from @nwlc - register here! http://t.co/VaSot4a0Q4
— Penn Women’s Center (@pwcnews) February 21, 2014
“Single women can decide virtually every [political] race in the US, but their voting patterns are very low” Carol Tracy #pennlaw
— Jillian Gutstein (@JillianGutstei1) February 21, 2014
“In the last 3 years, 900 anti-choice legislations have been introduced in the US, and a significant number have passed”Carol Tracy #pennlaw
— Jillian Gutstein (@JillianGutstei1) February 21, 2014
I am shocked by the ugly, vile, commentary about women that’s there [on cyberspace]” Carol Tracy #pennlaw
— Jillian Gutstein (@JillianGutstei1) February 21, 2014
“5 year old boys will pick up boys and girls toys equally, unless they are being watched, especially bt their father”Soraya Chemaly #pennlaw
— Jillian Gutstein (@JillianGutstei1) February 21, 2014
Starting off the day with a quiz at the Sparer symposium today! #pennlaw #genderandsocialinequality http://t.co/00HIcboYLp
— Jillian Gutstein (@JillianGutstei1) February 21, 2014
“We exposed insurance companies who were either refusing to ensure battered women or canceling their insurance’ Carol Tracy #pennlaw
— Jillian Gutstein (@JillianGutstei1) February 21, 2014
“We find, for example, that there are still gaps in laws affecting pregnant women in the workplace” Carol Tracy #pennlaw
— Jillian Gutstein (@JillianGutstei1) February 21, 2014