The Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law is pleased to announce this year’s Symposium will be held on  Friday, November 12, 2021, on advancing anti-discrimination laws. 

The National Institute for Workers’ Rights, the Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law, and the American will hold a Symposium on Friday, November 12, 2021, on advancing anti-discrimination laws. The Symposium’s goal is to explore ways in which the law may be used to advance diversity and equity in workplaces and educational institutions. To this end, the Symposium’s central question will be:

What changes are needed in the law to increase diversity and equity in our workplaces and in our educational institutions?

What key changes do these leading thinkers suggest to make the law more responsive to what people need to flourish in the face of historical and structural subordination, implicit biases, and other forms of oppression? These various forces present obstacles to human flourishing but despite many decades of development, anti-discrimination law as it currently works does not seem to have succeeded.

Legal thinkers in this space will suggest key changes needed to make the law more responsive to what people need to flourish in the face of blatant and more nuanced obstacles that enable discrimination in our workplaces and educational institutions.

Program of Events (all times are in EST): 

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Towards Effective Governmental Intervention: Ending Discrimination in the Workplace 

Moderator: Patrick O. Patterson, Panelists: Victoria Lipnic, Hnin Khaing, Carol R. Miaskoff

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Unreported: Shortcomings of Title IX

Moderator: Dean Lisa Taylor, Panelists: Natasha Martin, Leslie Annexstein, Elizabeth Kristen

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Symposium Keynote: Professor Vicki Schultz

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Severe or Pervasive: Towards Empowering Workers

Moderator: Allegra L. Fishel, Panelists: Bernice Yeung, Joseph M. Sellers, Lisa J. Banks, Ann C. McGinley 

4:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. The Future of Employment Law

Moderator: Karla Gilbride, Panelists: Michael Selmi, Professor Marcia L. McCormick, Geraldine Sumter, Stephen M. Rich

5:45 p.m. Closing Remarks

The link for registration can be found here. On the registration page please select “2021-11-12 – ‘Enhancing Anti-Discrimination Laws in Employment & Education'” from the drop-down bar. 

Any questions or concerns can be directed to Inka Boehm, Symposium Editor, at jgspl-symposium-editor@wcl.american.edu.