Women's studies chair inspires UCLA students
Ardent feminist shares life lessons about inequality
By Susan Lee
Daily Bruin Contributor
When she walked into the first day of her Introduction to Women's Studies class and found an overflow of students, Christine Littleton pulled out a phone and made calls until every student had a chair in which to sit.
Students said that it is Littleton's unique attitude of caring for her students, coupled with her expertise as a professor, that has helped her gain their respect and admiration.
"The student always comes first," said Jeremy Wintringer, a fourth-year women's studies/philosophy student .
He recalled how the class was assigned a "hard personal project" and the great satisfaction he felt when it was complete.
"She then thanked me for making my mom come to life (through the project) ... it was a unique experience - I mean, a professor thanking me!" Wintringer said.
As the current chair of the women's studies program, Littleton's main job is to make sure that both male and female students get a broader look at women and inequality.
An ardent feminist, Littleton was raised learning to succeed in "feminine" terms. Cooking, cleaning and having children were the roles she was pressured to fulfill.
"Personally, I felt the need to succeed professionally instead," Littleton said. "I like having an affect and seeing things change for women."
She explained that law has enabled her to combine her interests in both equality and gender. In fact, it is because of this intense love of law that Littleton plans to leave her position in the women's studies program and return to teaching at UCLA's School of Law in the fall.
"I'm very happy at UCLA, and I want to continue teaching women's studies even after I go back to the law department here next year," she said.
Stephen Yeazell, the law school's associate dean, described Littleton as talented and energetic both as a teacher and scholar.
"She has devoted an enormous amount of attention to women's studies," Yeazell said. "And what is most striking is that she puts conscientiousness and thought into her teaching as well as being innovative in creating new curriculum."
Some of Littleton's students said they feel her commitment to their education. Wintringer credited his positive experience in women's studies to Littleton's ability to appreciate and motivate her students.
"It's nice to be able to go into a department and see the professor welcome the presence of a guy interested in the material personally," Wintringer said. "She doesn't talk over you as a student, but takes a moment to listen to what you say and is very supportive."
Before going to law school herself, Littleton was a public school teacher and secretary at a New York law firm. In both jobs, she witnessed discrimination against women that had an affect on her outlook.
"Even in higher paying positions, women who were more qualified for position were passed over," Littleton said.
While at the firm, Littleton met lawyers who encouraged her to pursue her dreams of practicing law.
"The neat thing was there were both male and female lawyers (in the firm) who were committed to social justice and who encouraged me," Littleton said. "That's why I want to give back to the students by encouraging any students who express an interest."
In 1979, Littleton was one of the few female students accepted to Harvard Law School. She recalled being shocked by the small number of females in her classes.
"It was really frustrating, especially because I didn't see any woman professors during my first year," Littleton said. "Back then, it was so different. I couldn't ever have seen myself as professor."
During law school, Littleton wrote and edited for the Harvard Law Review at a time when only 10 out of 80 people in group were female. She also became managing editor of Harvard's women's law journal.
When she wrote an article on sexual equality, which she requested to be placed in the index under feminist legal theory, she was told by editors that the journal didn't have any such entry. Littleton simply looked them in the eye and said, "make one."
Littleton explained that persistence and determination are what have enabled her to pursue her career in law.
Attending a predominantly male graduate school also meant putting up with sexist jokes and sexual harassment, Littleton said.
"Any woman who spoke or said anything during class would be harassed," Littleton said. "Even in 1977, Harvard was very male-oriented, and women faculty (members) were not treated as equals."
After graduating in 1982 with a law degree, she moved to Los Angeles to work as a clerk for Judge Warren Ferguson. It was soon after that Littleton was first asked to teach.
Littleton was hired by UCLA in 1983 and she recalled that her original plan was to teach for only a few years. When she found that she loved teaching, Littleton decided to make it her career.
"I always had an interest in feminine theory and legal rights," she said. "So it was almost a natural connection to woman's studies."
Currently, she is also an adviser to the UCLA Women's Law Journal and involved in the educational committee for the Latino Literature Project, as well as programs with the Cesar Chavez Center.
In light of last year's 10th anniversary for the Center of Study for Women and this year's 20th anniversary for the women's studies program, Littleton said that women's studies has seen a significant rise in its student enrollment due to expanding course offerings.
"I don't think women's studies will ever be obsolete, but the role it plays will definitely change radically," Littleton said. "We constantly need to invent new ways to organize the program. So hopefully it will be less about female inequality and more about female equality in the future."
As a member of the chancellor's Task Force for Gay, Bisexual and Lesbian Affairs, Littleton has always held a strong interest in sexual equality.
Before she first began her job as chair of the women's studies program three years ago, Littleton taught subjects ranging from Introduction to Women's Studies to Jurisprudence of Sexual Equality.
Littleton, who is divorced and a lesbian, spoke her views about the recent disenrollment of ROTC Cadet Huong Nguyen.
"It's been established that sexual orientation doesn't have anything to do with performance. In this case, the military, or a branch of it, continues to practice its outdated policy," Littleton said.
"It's outrageous. Every year, they probably lose some of the best people out there by continuing to abide by this policy, which has no rational or important basis ... it may be legal, but it is certainly wrong,"
FRED HE/Daily Bruin
Littleton has also joined a task force at the Santa Monica Women's College and has been a member of the California Law Center for five years.
FRED HE/Daily Bruin
Professor christine Littleton is the current chair of the UCLA women's studies program, and thaches regularly at UCLA's law school.
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