Letter to the Editor: Diversity Missing

Abstract

In the October (2009) issue of Lexpert you feature the recipients of the Zenith Awards – “Celebrating Leading Women Lawyers”. It is no play on words, but the cover of your magazine is markedly ‘white’.

While the recipients are undoubtedly deserving individuals, there is a clear absence of visible minorities at the end of the “labyrinth” (as you have put it). In keeping with the metaphor, it seems as though female visible minorities were never given a map, or a compass, from their white female (or male) colleagues.

I think that it a disservice to the hundreds of visible minority women lawyers in Canada to not include even one (1) of them in your list.This is not about tokenism. It is about recognizing the signal that is sent to young, visible minority female lawyers (and law students). It sends the message that they are not among the ‘zenith’. It further emphasizes the dual discrimination that female visible minorities experience (as being both female, and a minority).

Discrimination comes in many forms. And I think the selection process for the current recipients of the Zenith Awards demonstrates how ingrained and systemic it truly is in the legal profession.

Keywords: race, racism, gender, sexism, sex, Zenith Awards, legal profession, advancement, recognition