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Deborah Rhode

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An Oral History Interview with

Deborah Rhode

Arriving at Stanford in 1979, Rhode was the second woman on the faculty of the Stanford Law School. She reflects on her own dawning awareness of the impact of gender socialization and inequity, attempts to redress both salary and non-salary gender discrepancies at Stanford, and the need for support networks and leadership training for women. Other topics include clerking for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Murray Gurfein of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; working with the House Judiciary Committee during the Clinton impeachment proceedings; the history of the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research; and Stanford’s Faculty Women’s Forum and Faculty Women’s Caucus.

Interview Excerpts

Developing an interest in women's issues

Decision to become a law professor

Joining the Stanford faculty

Lobbying for pay equity for women faculty