LibGuides: Critical Perspectives Reading (and More) List: Home

Introduction

Pence Law Library faculty compiled the following critical perspective reading lists to complement the first year curriculum. Please contact your library liaison to suggest additions to the guide.

Clearinghouse on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Research

This site, a project of Stanford Law School and SLS’s Robert Crown Law Library, collects and indexes research related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), with the goal of providing a single site for any university, faculty, instructor, staff, and student interested in learning about this topic.

Visit the the clearinghouse here.

General Readings

Implicit Racial Bias Across the Law by Justin D. Levinson (Editor); Robert J. Smith (Editor)
Call Number: KF384.I48 2012 and online
ISBN: 1107228697
Despite cultural progress in reducing overt acts of racism, stark racial disparities continue to define American life. This book is for anyone who wonders why race still matters and is interested in what emerging social science can contribute to the discussion. The book explores how scientific evidence on the human mind might help to explain why racial equality is so elusive. This new evidence reveals how human mental machinery can be skewed by lurking stereotypes, often bending to accommodate hidden biases reinforced by years of social learning. Through the lens of these powerful and pervasive implicit racial attitudes and stereotypes, Implicit Bias across the Law examines both the continued subordination of historically disadvantaged groups and the legal system's complicity in the subordination.
The Beauty Bias: The Injustice of Appearance in Life and Law by Deborah L. Rhode
Call Number: KF478 .R48 2010
ISBN: 0195372875
Publication Date: 2010-05-06
"It hurts to be beautiful" has been a cliche for centuries. What has been far less appreciated is how much it hurts not to be beautiful. The Beauty Bias explores our cultural preoccupation with attractiveness, the costs it imposes, and the responses it demands.Beauty may be only skin deep, but the damages associated with its absence go much deeper. Unattractive individuals are less likely to be hired and promoted, and are assumed less likely to have desirable traits, such as goodness, kindness, and honesty. Three quarters of women consider appearanceimportant to their self image and over a third rank it as the most important factor.Although appearance can be a significant source of pleasure, its price can also be excessive, not only in time and money, but also in physical and psychological health. Our annual global investment in appearance totals close to $200 billion. Many individuals experience stigma, discrimination, andrelated difficulties, such as eating disorders, depression, and risky dieting and cosmetic procedures. Women bear a vastly disproportionate share of these costs, in part because they face standards more exacting than those for men, and pay greater penalties for falling short.The Beauty Bias explores the social, biological, market, and media forces that have contributed to appearance-related problems, as well as feminism's difficulties in confronting them. The book also reviews why it matters. Appearance-related bias infringes fundamental rights, compromises meritprinciples, reinforces debilitating stereotypes, and compounds the disadvantages of race, class, and gender. Yet only one state and a half dozen localities explicitly prohibit such discrimination. The Beauty Bias provides the first systematic survey of how appearance laws work in practice, and acompelling argument for extending their reach. The book offers case histories of invidious discrimination and a plausible legal and political strategy for addressing them. Our prejudices run deep, but we can do far more to promote realistic and healthy images of attractiveness, and to reduce theprice of their pursuit.
Critical Race Theory: A Primer by Khiara M. Bridges
ISBN: 9781683284437
Publication Date: 2018-12-05
This highly-readable primer on Critical Race Theory (CRT) examines the theory's basic commitments, strengths, and weaknesses. In addition to serving as a primary text for graduate and undergraduate Critical Race Theory seminars or courses on Race and the Law, it can also be assigned in courses on Antidiscrimination Law, Civil Rights, and Law and Society. The book can be used by any reader seeking to understand the relationship between constructions of race and the law. The text consists of four Parts. Part I provides a history of CRT. Part II introduces and explores several core concepts in the theory--including institutional/structural racism, implicit bias, microaggressions, racial privilege, the relationship between race and class, and intersectionality. Part III builds on Part II's discussion of intersectionality by exploring the intersection of race with a variety of other characteristics--including sexuality and gender identity, religion, and ability. Part IV analyzes several contemporary issues to which CRT speaks--including racial disparities in health, affirmative action, the criminal justice system, the welfare state, and education.
Critical Race Theory: The Cutting Edge by Richard Delgado (Editor); Jean Stefancic
Call Number: KF4755 .C75 2013
ISBN: 143991060X
Publication Date: 2013-06-15
Critical Race Theory has become a dynamic, eclectic, and growing movement in the study of law. With this third edition of Critical Race Theory, editors Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic have created a reader for the twenty-first century - one that shakes up the legal academy, questions comfortable liberal premises, and leads the search for new ways of thinking about our nation's most intractable, and insoluble, problem - race. The contributions, from a stellar roster of established and emerging scholars, address new topics, such as inter-sectionality and black men on the "down low." Essays also confront much-discussed issues of discrimination, workplace dynamics, affirmative action, and sexual politics. Also new to this volume are updated section introductions, author notes, questions for discussion, and reading lists for each unit. The volume also covers the spread of the movement to other disciplines such as education. Offering a comprehensive and stimulating snapshot of current race jurisprudence and thought, this new edition of Critical Race Theory is essential for those interested in law, the multiculturalism movement, political science, education, and critical thought. Richard Delgado , University Professor of Law at Seattle University, is one of the founding members of the Conference on Critical Race Theory, and the author of Critical White Studies (Temple). Jean Stefancic is Research Professor of Law at Seattle University, and author of No Mercy: How Conservative Think Tanks and Foundations Changed America's Social Agenda (Temple).
Introduction to Feminist Legal Theory by Martha E. Chamallas
ISBN: 9781454831297
Publication Date: 2012-11-05
The leading text in the field, Introduction to Feminist Legal Theory was the first book that served as an introductory survey of feminist jurisprudence. Its historical view of feminist legal theory places issues in social context and thoroughly reviews the evolving paradigms of contemporary feminism from the 1970s through the present. The full range of legal issues affecting women are covered, including gender discrimination, rape, sexual harassment, motherhood, reproductive issues, and much more. Clear, energetic presentation keeps students engaged and involved with succinct overviews, intellectually stimulating material, and jargon-free prose. The Third Edition features up-to-date theories and topics, such as the "autonomy" feminism and "masculinities" theory. Expansion of the current theory-based structure includes the "big three" feminisms described in the previous edition and the "new three" feminisms, which are expanded in the third edition. New applied areas are covered as well, such as transgender legal issues and sex trafficking. While the book remains U.S.-focused, important new material on global and comparative feminism has been added. Throughout the text, students will find discussion about changes in the law since 2003 on issues such as rape, pay equity, sex stereotyping, marriage equality, Title IX, and more. Thoroughly updated, the revised Third Edition presents: Up-to-date theories and topics "autonomy" feminism, "masculinities" theory, "social justice" feminism LGBT and critical race perspectivesa Two-part organization, focusing on chronology and substantive areas of the law that are of particular importance to feminist legal scholars Part one focuses on chronology by examining the three generations of feminist legal theory that have emerged since 1971 the Generation of Equality (1970s) the Generation of Difference (1980s) the Generation of Complex Identities (1990s to present) this part will also include the "new three" feminisms in the 3rd edition (intersectional, autonomy and postmodern feminism) Part two focuses on substantive areas of the law, which fall into three categories economic subordination of women sexual subordination of women motherhood and reproduction Introduction of new applied areas transgender legal issues sex trafficking reproductive justice More material on global and comparative feminism, while remaining U.S.-focused Discussion of changes in the law since 2003 rape domestic violence pay equity torts and tax law same-sex marriage Title IX, and more

Podcasts

1619 Audio Series
The Appeal: A podcast, hosted by Adam Johnson, on criminal justice reform, abolition and everything in between.
Brene with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist (Unlocking Us with Brene Brown): Podcast episode featuring Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to be An Antiracist.
Can One Person Change the Criminal Justice System (Next Question with Katie Couric): Katic Couric interview of Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy, and stars Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx from the film portrayal of Stevenson's book.
Code Sw!tch (NPR): A multi-racial, multi-generational team of NPR journalists who cover race and identity.
Democracy Works: From Penn State College of the Liberal Arts’ McCourtney Institute for Democracy, a network of podcasts that examine what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Hear to Slay: The Black Feminist Podcast of Your Dreams Hosted by Roxane Gay & Tressie McMillan Cottom: A black feminist perspective on celebrity, culture, politics, art, life, love and more
Intersectionality Matters: Intersectionality Matters! is a podcast hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory.
Jemele Hill is Unbothered: Award-winning journalist and culture critic Jemele Hill interviews the most compelling figures in news, pop culture, politics and sports.
Justice in America: Hosted by Josie Duffy Rice and Clint Smith, this is a podcast for everyone interested in criminal justice reform— from those new to the system to experts who want to know more.
Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast: Features movement voices, stories, and strategies for racial justice. Co-hosts Chevon and Hiba give their unique takes on race and pop culture, and uplift narratives of hope, struggle, and joy, as we continue to build the momentum needed to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture.
Pod For The Cause (The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights): This podcast was created for those of you wanting to effect change, who understand the importance of restoring our democracy and want to engage in deep conversation around the issues.
Pod Save the People with DeRay: Organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson explores news, culture, social justice, and politics with analysis from fellow activists Brittany Packnett and Sam Sinyangwe and writer Dr. Clint Smith III. DeRay also dives in deep with experts, influencers, and diverse local and national leaders to better understand the issues.
Seeing White: Where did the notion of “whiteness” come from? What does it mean? What is whiteness for? Scene on Radio host and producer John Biewen took a deep dive into these questions, along with an array of leading scholars and regular guest Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika, in this fourteen-part documentary series, released between February and August 2017. The series editor is Loretta Williams.
Show About Race: Co-discussants Anna Holmes, Baratunde Thurston, Raquel Cepeda and Tanner Colby host a lively multiracial, interracial conversation about the ways we can’t talk, don’t talk, would rather not talk, but intermittently, fitfully, embarrassingly do talk about culture, identity, politics, power, and privilege in America. This show is "About Race."
Still Processing (The New York Times): Podcast with Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morrison, two culture writers for The New York Times.

*Podcasts list adapted from Gonzaga University School of Law, Chastek LIbrary: Racial Justice: Race and Diversity in America Guide

Pence Law Library Guides

Critical Perspectives Reading (and More) List

Introduction

Clearinghouse on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Research

General Readings

Podcasts