Sonia Sotomayor

About a few weeks back I went to the Sonia Sotomayor conference held by many of Baruch’s own histroy teachers, mine included. This day was supposed to discuss the conflicts surrounding the nomination and approval of the first latin american female supreme court justice appointed ever. Professor Julie Des Jardines discusses the important role sex and gender came into play with the news media that surfaced around Sonia’s nomination. She discussed the vita role that Sonia plays as a woman pioneering the male dominated sphere of politics and the justice system. In conclusion to her observations she noted that there was much historical significance with Sotomayors situation because it elevates the feminine perspective into a predominantly male occupation. Another speaker, whom I forgot the name of, address racial issues that surfaced about from Sotomayors elects. She noted that hispanics were now becoming the new African Americans of the century because of anti-sentiment towards people of that particular race. The influx of Mexican immigrants into this country has obviously cause major changes in the way Americans are willing to allow them to succeed. In summary, the whole even was rather side tracked but very, very interesting. A lot of the topics were loosely connected to Sotomayor’s situation however the examples used were insightful and interesting. For the most part, if extra-credit wasn’t assigned and I had to change to go again I think I would because I learned a lot of sexual politics and racial-sentiments.