ABSTRACT This paper considers women’s representation in the under-explored context of the judiciary in Northern Ireland. Previous research into the experiences of women practitioners in the legal profession in Northern Ireland has indicated that women are discouraged from pursuing judicial careers for a variety of reasons associated with their gender. Further research into the gendered barriers these women practitioners face is required in order to assess the extent to which the same may impede their career progression. This paper uses a critical, social constructionist feminist approach to explore some of the gendered barriers influencing women’s under-representation in Northern Ireland’s judiciary. It is contended that representation can only be improved when women’s retention and progression through the ranks of the legal profession is addressed. Employing gender as a lens, this paper will analyse potential difficulties faced by the women solicitors and barristers in Northern Ireland in order to assess future judicial gender parity prospects in this jurisdiction as it is these women solicitors and barristers who form the female “talent pool” from which future members of the judiciary will be selected.

中文翻译：

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司法成功途径中的问题：北爱尔兰法律界的女性

摘要本文考虑了在北爱尔兰司法机构尚未充分研究的背景下的妇女代表制。先前对北爱尔兰法律界从业女性经验的研究表明，由于各种与性别有关的原因，妇女不愿从事司法职业。为了评估这些女性从业者可能阻碍其职业发展的程度，有必要对这些女性从业者面临的性别障碍进行进一步研究。本文采用批判性的社会建构主义女性主义方法，探讨了影响北爱尔兰司法机构中女性代表不足的一些性别障碍。有人认为，只有解决妇女在法律职业中的保留和晋升问题，才能改善代表性。本文以性别为视角，将分析北爱尔兰女律师和大律师面临的潜在困难，以评估该辖区未来的司法性别均等前景，因为正是这些女律师和大律师构成了女性“人才库”从中选出未来的司法人员。