Believe it or not sexism is wildly prevalent in the court system. Who would've thought? Recently the American Bar Association (ABA) voted to strike any use of the words "honey" or "darling" and other demeaning remarks towards female lawyers in a court of law. Sexist gestures associated with such words are now also prohibited. This new ethics rule will forbid any lawyer from singling out a counterpart on the basis of race, religion, sex, disability, etc. Penalties for the use of misogynistic words, more specifically "honey" and "darling" will be determined by the state bar and could include fines or suspensions.
Female lawyers like Lori Rifkin are "well accustomed" to sexist remarks from their opposing male counterparts and even judges. The New York Times in an article, "Bar Association Considers Striking ‘Honeys’ From the Courtroom" tells the story of Lori, a practicing attorney who in January was embarrassed in the courtroom by a male attorney. Lori elevated her voice to be heard in the courtroom, to defend her opponent, and was told “Don’t raise your voice at me. It’s not becoming of a woman.” Lori also indicates a time she was pat on the head in court. This situation drew much attention from a federal magistrate who said the lawyer who called Lori out only “endorsed the stereotype that women are subject to a different standard of behavior than their fellow attorneys.”
This sparked a revolution among lawyers and judges alike, banding together to abolish an age old word that holds much more connotation than it seems.
According to the New York Times, the ABA hasn't been the driving force in this change. States have created laws that include the use of misogynistic words like "honey" or other demeaning terms and actions in court as forms of sexual harassment and are written into many by laws. However since laws vary state by state, depending on where you practice and where you preside in court, the laws will obviously be different. However, now the ABA has created one standard law and left it up to the states to decide punishment, it doesn't matter what courtroom you're in, the word "honey" and "darling" can n longer be used.
This change made by the ABA is something women in law have been waiting for for years. Their experiences with misogyny and sexism within their workplace are being used for a good cause, to help future females participate in the same courtroom as men and with the same rules for behavior. There's an equal playing field.
No longer can men reprimand women for being loud, beautiful forces of nature.
