Introduction INTRODUCTION LAWRENCE DEMPSEY* AND SHRUTI RANA** This year the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law celebrates its tenth anniversary. To commemorate this occasion, the Journal invited a few special persons to submit their personal thoughts about gender and law. Their writings are highlighted in the special anniversary sections of this issue and our next issue. We selected these particular authors because of their great contributions to gender equality and scholarship, and because we expected they would have many insightful observations on these topics. When we received their writing, we were overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of their responses. We would like to express our gratitude to each one of our tenth anniversary authors. These anniversary thoughts are from distinguished jurists, academics, lawyers, and public servants. They cover a wide range of topics within gender and law. Also, many are not written in the traditional format for law journal articles. This is by design. We invited our anniversary authors to write in an anecdotal and informal style, if they so chose. This provides a rare opportunity to hear from some of today's most important voices on gender and law, free from the ofiten restricting constraints of academic articles and judicial opinions. The writings we received cover a diverse range of topics and views. We believe that presenting this interdisciplinary and varied collection of articles is an appropriate way to celebrate the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law's ten years of scholarship concerning gender and law-and also to look forward to the next ten years. Many of the anniversary articles share a common thread: they celebrate the great progress that has been made in gender and legal issues. Some writers, such as Judges Patricia A. Hemann and Pat E. Morgenstern- Clarren, share their personal experiences as women in the legal profession. Others provide us with a historical view of gender and law. In her contribution, Lynn Hecht Schafran describes the great strides that have been made towards ending gender bias in the courts. On a similar note, Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum offers her perspective on the implications of being a female judge in America today and reflects on the increasing numbers of women entering the judiciary. At the same time, many of the anniversary articles point out that today there are still many inequities and challenges which cry out for * Solicitations Editor, 1999-2000. .. Editor-in-Chief, 1999-2000. Columbia Journal of Gender and Law improvement. Certainly, substantial progress has been made in these areas-women are now admitted into law schools in greater numbers than ever before, and the legal academy has also opened its doors wider to gays and lesbians. The fact that this was not always the case-that gays and lesbians quite recently struggled against a hostile environment in the legal profession and academia-is well illustrated by the Brief Against Homophobia at the Bar. Even today, the very idea that gender and sexuality are legitimate areas of legal study must continually be defended, as Professor Susan Becker points out. Progress in gender and law also impacts other disciplines, such as medicine. Currently, when pharmaceutical companies sponsor new drugs they must monitor the drugs' safety and effectiveness for women. This was not the case as recently as two years ago, as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna E. Shalala discusses. Today, much work remains. There are still injustices which cry out for correction. These injustices are issues of concern for the Journal, and for everyone who cares about equality. As Judge Jack B. Weinstein thoughtfully points out, the future of gender and legal scholarship will involve a broader view of gender problems, from single parenthood to poverty. One of the founding principles of JGL is that gender issues concern everyone, and that feminism must be inclusive. While feminism is concerned with equality for women, it is not about equality for women alone. Feminism is also about equality for men and children. This is powerfully illustrated by Gary J. Maxwell's article discussing the challenges involved in ending domestic violence. And as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg eloquently states, feminism "means freeing people, men as well as women, to be you and me, allowing people to pursue the talents and qualities that they have without artificial restraints." So what will the next ten years bring for law, gender issues and feminism? We cannot say with certainty, but we hope for the best. We are confident that in its second decade, the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law will continue to advocate for an expansive view of feminist jurisprudence. Undoubtedly, the Journal will continue to examine and encourage positive and exciting changes in gender and the law. Finally, working on the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law has been one of our best experiences here at Columbia Law School. For this, we wish to thank all of our friends on the Journal. Every Journal meeting involves engaging, spirited and friendly discussion of gender and legal issues. The debates, challenges, and friendships that have marked our experiences at the Journal are unique, and have created a valuable learning environment outside our classrooms. As one of our former Editors-in- Chief, Laura LaVelle points out, the Journal "gives everyone an equal voice." In looking back on these last ten years, we also wish to thank the Columbia Law School faculty and administration for their continued support, and we thank all the past Journal members who have worked so [Vol 10: 1 Introduction hard this past decade to make the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law what it is today. Here's to the next ten years! 1999]