AYLA
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International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, serves as a global recognition of women’s achievements and an ongoing call to advance gender equality. Historically, female attorneys, scholars, and activists have advanced legal arguments, challenged discriminatory frameworks, and helped redefine the contours of civil rights. In courtrooms, classrooms, legislatures, and community organizations, women have been instrumental in championing reforms related to workplace equity, education, family law, voting rights, and protection from violence and discrimination.
Despite significant progress, gender disparities remain in many areas of the legal field and for women in general in the United States compared to other developed nations. Women continue to encounter obstacles in compensation equity, representation in senior leadership roles, access to mentorship networks, and work‑life balance structures that disproportionately affect caregivers.
I remember during the pandemic when the show “Workin Moms” came out on Netflix. I was perplexed at the postpartum classes and time that the working moms got to spend with their infants. It wasn’t until I realized it was a show based in Canada that explained the extended care and time given to families to focus on the family after welcoming a baby. I was led to believe that it was normal to have a child and get back to work within 8-12 weeks or whatever FMLA permitted. Instead of looking at the past and how far we’ve come with parental leave, it is important to understand how far there is still to go in advocating for women who choose to, or have no choice to, be working moms. I know that some of my colleagues got minimal leave postpartum, and I want to acknowledge their hurdles navigating profession and parenting. But imagine where the norm is mandated long-term support for women and families. It’s vital to continue demanding extended medical treatment, care, and support postpartum, whether working or not.
In 2006, Mexico enacted the General Law for Equality between Women and Men (Ley General para la Igualdad entre Mujeres y Hombres), a federal mandate that establishes and guarantees equality of opportunities and treatment for women and men across both public and private spheres. In 2014, Mexico amended its Federal Constitution to require gender parity (equality) in the nomination of candidates for federal and local congressional elections. This obligated political parties to present candidate lists composed of 50% women and 50% men, creating binding parity requirements for nominations. In 2019, the constitutional reform known as “Paridad en Todo” (“parity in everything”) expanded gender parity obligations beyond electoral nominations requiring that 50% of positions—both elective and appointed—across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches at the federal and state levels be held by women, making Mexico one of the world leaders in comprehensive gender parity mandates.
If you didn’t already know about this, I hope that your jaw dropped like mine when I found out. It is incredible. While it contradicts the United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s response of “when there are nine” to the question of when there would be enough women on the United States Supreme Court, it would be monumental to have equal representation in governmental positions in the States.
In 2024, the first female President was elected in Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and since taking office she has facilitated further equality efforts for women including but not limited to equal pay and women’s rights to live a life free of violence. Other countries have also recently paved the way for women’s equity, protection, and equality. While in the U.S. women’s rights are at risk of being taken away, we can look to the progress and movement of other countries as inspiration and hope for the future and future generations.
I draw inspiration from the fearless Pakistani education advocate and survivor, Malala Yousafzai. Her first book, “I am Malala,” which came out in 2013 was eye-opening on access to education and equality for women on a global level and an inspiration of the power of courage and bravery. Her most recent memoir in 2025, “Finding My Way,” describes her resilience, determination, and ability to be real and lean into vulnerability, navigating a life dedicated to advocacy for access to education for girls.
Celebrating and educating about International Women’s Day provides a meaningful moment to reflect on remaining challenges both in the U.S. and globally with clarity and purpose that can be carried through the rest of the year and practiced day to day.
Attorneys also hold a unique responsibility in shaping public conversations around gender equality as we influence laws, regulations, and precedents that directly affect the rights of women and girls. I want to give a distinguished mention to one of the outstanding Austin Young Lawyers Association Directors, Samantha McCoy, for her advocacy for survivors and purpose driven work to create change through accountability and education on a global level. She is an inspiration as an attorney, advocate, survivor, and parent. If you find yourself interested in advocacy, she is a great resource of where to start and how to begin making change.
Through purposeful advocacy, members of the bar can help ensure that evolving legal frameworks support substantive—not merely formal—equality. This includes evaluating the disparate impact of legislation at all levels, promoting equitable workplace practices, and facilitating access to- and demanding- justice for individuals whose rights have been marginalized or overlooked.
Supporting women’s equality is not solely a matter of compliance or professional obligation; it strengthens the legal system as a whole. Diverse perspectives enrich legal reasoning, enhance problem‑solving, and improve the quality of representation offered to clients. When women have equitable access to leadership, decision‑making roles, and professional development, the legal community becomes more innovative, resilient, and capable of addressing complex societal issues.
My intent on writing about International Women’s Day is both to encourage celebration and a call to action. It provides an annual reminder of the legal profession’s capacity—and responsibility—to promote equality through both individual practice and institutional reform. By honoring the achievements of women in the legal field and reaffirming our commitment to equitable practices, we can continue moving toward a more inclusive future where all individuals are empowered to contribute fully to the pursuit of justice.