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...such a context, there seems little need to feel that one has to offer a specific justification for a feminist law journal.
In some ways, all law school journal serve similar functions. The most obvious purpose is to publish articles aimed at advancing legal theory and practice. A second function for these journals is to provide a context in which students can work together on areas of common interest while they enhance their substantive knowledge, improve their research and writing skills, and enhance their resumes. However, while the prestige of traditional law reviews attracts students without regard to political perspectives, special interest journal may be more likely to attract students who have at least some ideological or political commitment to a substantive area. Thus students with an interest in advancing women's interests often join journals that address women's issues. For such students, work on the journal may represent more than an academic exercise or a credential. It can be a context in which the student can act on and affirm a commitment to an area in which he or she hopes to have some long-term involvement. For some women students, the feminist journal may also provide a context that helps them to process gender issues relevant to their law school experience.
Research conducted by some of the speakers at this symposium indicates that in recent years, mainstream law reviews have become increasingly receptive to articles written from a feminist perspective. (1) In light of this development, the question "why a feminist law journal?" becomes an especially important one. Feminist journals must now compete with many others for interesting and compelling articles. In this brief essay I will discuss what I see as the mission of the feminist law journal and I will offer a few practical suggestions for ways I think feminist law journals might continue to make themselves attractive to authors who now may have many more choices in placing their work.
II. THE MISSION OF THE SPECIAL INTEREST PUBLICATION
As I began to think about whether feminist law journals have a special mission, I thought about why I often read popular magazines aimed primarily at Black audiences. In addition to the many articles and publications I read in order to stay current in my work as an academic, I also subscribe to magazines such as Black Enterprise, Ebony, and Essence. I read these magazines because they offer me, as a Black person, something different than what mainstream publications provide. Magazines aimed at Black audiences often address issues that I have a personals take in that mainstream magazines...
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Converted or unconverted: to whom shall we preach?, September 01, 2003
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