Blog #25: Sexual Behavior

As with any weapon you must be careful how you use it. That is no different from using sexualized behaviors to help you achieve your goals or get a decision to go your way while working as a lawyer. Some female lawyers will flirt with colleagues or clients to get what they want. They can sense how people are responding to them and can turn on and off the charm when they see fit. This can be a good thing because it allows the woman to get the reaction she wants, but it can be a bad thing because it puts her skills in questions. Colleagues can see this female lawyer using charm and flirting to get what she wants and not her lawyer prowess, which puts her abilities under scrutiny. Another pro is that using your sexuality gives you an advantage. The problem with this approach is that if you use it too much or if you do not regulate it well, then you give the impression that that is the only thing you have going for you. Some women use their fashion style to get ahead. These women know that if they have a male judge or if a jury member is watching that they can shorten their skirt or show a little more cleavage to get the people to rule in their favor. Again, this can also diminish how the woman is seen. Other people can see her as not being intelligent and that is why she is resorting to “showing skin”. The media portrays female lawyers as being second to males. They are always beautiful and wear the latest fashions. The movie that comes to mind for me is “Law Abiding Citizen”. The female lawyer, Megan, is second to Jamie Foxx’s character. She is young, attractive, and dresses in clothing that shows off her body. The beginning of the movie shows Foxx having to convince their boss to let Megan take lead on a case.