FAU law students discuss law through media
This series
Series 4 consists of 4 episodes and was published in April 2024.
Episode 1
The Ginsburg Perspective
Julia Knopp
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Carolin Mükke
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Category
- Law in film
- Duration
- 13:58
- Keywords
- judges, women in law, stereotypes
Women Empowering Law School – illustrated by the striking example of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and On the Basis of Sex:
At this juncture, approximately 60% of German law students are female. In the last century, however, this was far from reality.
Throughout history, women faced significant barriers in pursuing careers in law. Societal expectations, stereotypes and discrimination were prominent obstacles. Upholding gender equality in the legal profession required immense effort and resilience. The questions that subsequently arise are what was everyday university life like for female law students in the last century and what hurdles did they have to overcome in their legal careers?
This harsh reality and the constant endeavour to promote and foster gender equality in the legal system is thematised in and strikingly exemplified by Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life and legal career, as well as the film “On the Basis of Sex” that celebrates Ginsburg’s groundbreaking achievements. Ginsburg played a pivotal role in promoting women’s rights and gender equality within the legal framework. Her persistent advocacy for legal change paved the way for career opportunities for women in law. Ginsburg’s appointment as the second female Supreme Court Justice in 1993 highlighted her exceptional career. Thus, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the hurdles faced by women in pursuing careers in law shall be the main subject of this episode.
Julia and Carolin examine the historical and societal background and subsequently delve into Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life and career in detail. This is illustrated by the film On the Basis of Sex. Let us delve into the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the film that celebrates her groundbreaking achievements.
Episode 2
Missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada
Clara Flemming
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Noël Jörissen
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Category
- Law and news journalism
- Duration
- 15:22
- Keywords
- indigenous peoples, missing persons
Media coverage of missing-person cases involving indigenous women and girls in Canada:
Some estimates say murder is the third leading cause of death for native women, girls and two spirited peoples in Canada. In their podcast episode Clara and Noël aim to provide an insight into the history of the Canadian Indigenous People and Canadian society today to portray the ongoing discrimination and address the question of the “Canadian Genocide” from a gender perspective.
Episode 3
The romanticisation of perpetrators on TikTok
Marina Kahlert
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Theresa Löblein
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Category
- Law and social media
- Duration
- 14:03
- Keywords
- TikTok, young people, influences
The intriguing and controversial world of TikTok, where a concerning trend has emerged – the romanticisation of perpetrators:
In this episode, Marina and Theresa talk about the ways in which this platform may be shaping the perspective of young individuals on justice. They aim to unravel the complexities surrounding the romanticisation of perpetrators, questioning the potential influence on the sense of justice among the youth and their moral compass.
Join them as they navigate the lines between entertainment and ethical considerations, trying to understand the implications of romanticising perpetrators on TikTok.
Episode 4
Defence attorneys in TV shows - heroes or villains?
Jonas Elflein
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Thu Hien Luu
Law student, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Category
- Crime and courtroom dramas
- Duration
- 14:51
- Keywords
- attorneys, defence council
How defence attorneys are sometimes portrayed as villains and sometimes as heroes.
Although, to the untrained eye, lawyers do not belong to the most flashy of occupations, they are a frequent occurrence in many people’s media diet. In this regard, their portrayal can be as different as night and day - from the selfless and heroic like Atticus Finch, the protagonist of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird to the outright evil such as Law & Order’s attorney Oslow.
In this episode, Jonas and Thu Hien provide an introduction to - and reasons for - the portrayal of defence attorneys in the media.