Women lawyers still have to work harder than men to make their place: Justice Rekha Palli at SILF event

Women lawyers still face gendered challenges in the workplace although the situation has been improving over time, Justices Rekha Palli and Tara Vitasta Ganju of the Delhi High Court observed on Saturday..The judges were speaking at an event organised by the Ladies Group of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) to mark International Women’s Day, 2024..While responding to a question concerning whether challenges in the workplace have become more gender-neutral now, Justice Palli observed:“We have made a lot of strides but to say that gender has lost its relevance will be a very, very far-fetched statement. There is still a bias, there is still a little resistance even from clients and law firms."She said that there was still disparity between the women entering law firms and the women who “reach the top” in such firms.Some women lawyers may end up leaving firms because they may be overawed by responsibilities that are conventionally thrust on them, she mused.“Ultimately, as women, we all have to take care of a lot of things. Even today when I leave my house, I have to tell my staff what to cook for lunch. Maybe, some girls (recruited by law firms) did not reach the top because they were overawed by those responsibilities,” she said.She added that even though things are changing for the better, and women are increasingly noticed and given credit if they work well, it cannot be said that gender biases have completely lost relevance in the workplace.“Believe me, men are treating you with respect, but you (women) have to make your place by working a little harder than them … It is changing, no doubt about it,” she added..Justice Ganju urged women lawyers to move ahead in their work with confidence, even if their path may be a little harder when compared to their male colleagues."The path is a little tougher, I completely agree, than for our male counterparts. But then, aren't women always the best at multitasking?” she said.While fielding another query on whether women are expected to meet higher standards at work, Justice Ganju noted that such biases are prevalent. However, she added that with a good work environment, such biases against a woman could be transformed into the recognition of her competence."I find sometimes women use gender to get away with things. Don’t do that. If you do that, then don’t blame people for having biases. So just work hard and be competent. Don't let it come back and bite you at a later stage,” the judge advised women lawyers..Meanwhile, Senior Advocate Swarupama Chaturvedi recounted that she started legal practice as a first-generation lawyer when her daughter was eight months old, after leaving a teaching post at NLSIU, Bengaluru. Litigation lends that kind of flexibility, she said.She also spoke of how she was judged by her female peers for working after leaving her young child at home.“That, I want to highlight. No man has asked me, such a young child you left at home and why are you in the court? But every second (woman) colleague has asked, 'how could you do that? How your husband permitted?' I said, who is he to permit?' I mean, he has never asked that to me,” she said.Chaturvedi added that many of the problems begin with the assumption that only a woman is responsible for raising a child, an assumption held by women as well."We (women) ourselves, we give a tag to ourselves that we have to do everything. No. The responsibility has to be shared. When people say you have got a fantastic husband, I say he is a normal husband and a normal gentleman because he does share the parenting responsibilities," the senior lawyer explained..Payal Khanna, Director of Legal, Risk Management, and Compliance for DB Schenker observed that a change in mind set is crucial. Efforts such as the Women’s Reservation Bill could help but it is more important to normalise the idea that women can do anything, provided they are given the opportunity.Vanita Bhargava, Partner at Khaitan and Co, served as the moderator for the session. Among other queries, she also prompted a discussion on why number of women judges was less in the judiciary..“We can’t just make a lady a judge just because she's a lady,” Justice Palli explained, adding that there should be a pool of women candidates suited to the role.The judge also noted that with more young girls entering the legal profession, the situation in the district judiciary is improving and things will continue to change.She further emphasised that women lawyers should mentor each other. Empowered women should empower other women, Justice Palli said. Justice Ganju agreed that change is inevitable.