The Language of Law School This page intentionally left blank

Participation from
Ratio of Total Focused
Ratio of Total
Extended to
Class
Dialogue Turns
Other Dialogue Turns
Shorter Dialogue
Elite/Prestige
2
0.94
1.14
–.20
8
1.71
1.40
+.31
5
1.14
1.75
–.61
Regional
4
1.14
1.25
–.11
7
0.68
1.21
–.53
Local
1
1.15
1.04
+.11
6
1.00
0.94
+.06
3
0.98
0.88
+.10
Average change in female-taught classes
+.15
Average change in male-taught classes
–.26
Ratios are calculated by dividing the men’s participation rate by the women’s participa-
tion rate. 1.0 is the figure that would represent equal participation by women and men.
Figures over 1.0 represent an imbalance toward male participation; figures under 1.0
represent an imbalance toward female participation.
Participation rates are basically the average number of turns per student. Women’s
participation rate, for example, is the number of turns taken by women divided by the
number of women enrolled in the course. When average participation rates are equal—that
is, when the average participation rate for one group divided by the other equals 1.0—each
group is participating in proportion to its representation in class enrollment.

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194
Difference
by a male teacher in a regional law school. It is in the classes taught by women, and
in the local law school class taught by a man, that women actually improve their