I have spent my career at the intersection of law and public discourse. Whether I’m providing educational analysis on the latest in employment and workplace laws, or hosting the Legal Lens radio show and podcast, my mission remains constant: helping educate and enlighten everyday people on the policy developments that impact their lives and livelihoods. By breaking down complex statutes and judicial rulings into accessible insights, I strive to empower listeners to navigate an ever-changing legal landscape with clarity and confidence. 
The progress of civil rights is rarely a straight line; it is a constant, vigilant effort to guide and guard the protections that generations before us fought to establish. In a time when headlines are dominated by the rolling back of established norms, it is more important than ever to look through a legal lens at the people and organizations standing on the front lines. To help us go behind the lens of these national battles, I was joined by a true powerhouse in the legal community: Fatima Goss Graves.
Fatima is a graduate of UCLA Law (Go Bruins!) and Yale Law School, and she currently serves as the President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center. As a co-founder of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, she has been at the epicenter of the most significant gender justice movements of our time. In this episode, we discuss the deep-rooted history of her family’s fight for desegregation, the 37 words that changed American education, and why there is still profound hope for the rule of law in our current courts.
Listen to the full episode below:
Navigate the Episode:
- 02:30 – Behind the Lens: Fatima’s Family Legacy in Desegregation
- 05:25 – The Mission of the National Women’s Law Center
- 08:45 – Unpacking the 37 Words of Title IX
- 13:15 – Transgender Athletes and Sports Bans at the Supreme Court
- 18:50 – Body Policing and the “Slippery Slope” of Sex Verification
- 23:30 – Standing Up for the Rule of Law: Why Hope Is Not Lost
- 28:40 – Eight Years Later: The Current Status of the #MeToo Movement
A Legacy of Justice: From Desegregation Plaintiffs to the Supreme Court Bar
Fatima’s commitment to the law wasn’t born in a textbook; it was part of her family’s DNA. Both of her parents came from families who were plaintiffs in landmark school desegregation cases—Goss v. Board of Education in Knoxville and a major case in Detroit. These stories of everyday people taking on powerful forces shaped her “why” from a very young age and led her to become the first lawyer in her extended family.
“I remember hearing those stories of everyday people taking on really powerful forces and really understanding that the law itself was a powerful tool and that I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to be one of the people who brought our rights and freedoms to light.” — Fatima Goss Graves
Related Article: The History & Legacy of the National Bar Association: A Conversation with Attorney Ashley Upkins, President of the National Bar Association
The 37 Words of Title IX: A Broad Promise of Equality
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1965 is a civil rights law that serves as a cornerstone for equity in American education. While many people associate Title IX strictly with women’s sports and March Madness, the law is a broad mandate against sex discrimination in any educational program receiving federal funds. Fatima explains that these 37 words have a widespread impact on everything from K-12 public schools to private universities, covering issues that many don’t realize fall under its umbrella. This includes protection against sexual harassment, equity in STEM programs, and the rights of pregnant and parenting students.
Title IX states that “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
“Title IX‘s very broad ban against sex discrimination includes addressing things like sexual harassment… athletic facilities or uniforms or unequal scholarships. Title IX protections apply to pregnant and parenting students and ensuring that they aren’t just pushed out of school.” — Fatima Goss Graves
Related Article: Carl Douglas: Fighting for Justice & the Rule of Law
Sports Bans for Transgender Students
We spent significant time discussing two cases currently before the Supreme Court: Little v. Kock and BPJ v. West Virginia. These cases challenge state laws that ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports. Fatima Goss Graves argues that these bans often rely on the very stereotypes Title IX was designed to dismantle, serving as a distraction from real issues while limiting the roles women can play in society.
“What you see in the conversation about these cases is a lot of renewed worrying aloud about women’s delicacy and whether or not they are suitable to play… These laws are designed both to distract from the actual problems in this country, but they’re also a very veiled effort to promote a very limited idea of the role of women.” — Fatima Goss Graves
The “Body Policing” Slippery Slope
One concerning aspect of these sports bans, according to Fatima Goss Graves, is the requirement for “sex verification.” This doesn’t just impact transgender athletes; it subjects all women to invasive scrutiny. Fatima Goss Graves warns that this opens a dangerous door to body policing and further trauma in environments where sexual assault is already a major concern.
“When you start going down the slippery slope around how athletic programs will make people prove up their sex, it’s not a good picture. Especially given the range of body policing that happens in women’s sports and, unfortunately, the range of sexual assault that happens in women’s sports.” — Fatima Goss Graves
Protecting the Rule of Law: Why Hope Is Not Lost
Despite current challenges to the rule of law, Fatima Goss Graves remains steadfast in her belief that the courts still offer a path to victory. She reminds us that the judiciary has a critical role in ensuring we have a democracy, and that judges across the country are making the daily choice to stand up for the rule of law.
“The moment they let that go by abandoning their obligation, they will have lost the trust of the people, and really our democracy will just be further eroded… As attorneys at the National Women’s Law Center, we have these shirts that say, ‘I took an oath.’ Part of that is showing up for the rule of law.” — Fatima Goss Graves
Related Article: The Rule of Law Under Stress: Attorney Deepak Gupta on Why the U.S. Supreme Court Still Matters
The Evolution of #MeToo and the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund
Eight years after #MeToo went viral, the movement has shifted from cultural awareness to systematic legal protection. Through the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, Fatima Goss Graves and her team have helped thousands of workers—from domestic employees and farmworkers to those in the entertainment industry—find the legal representation they need to fight harassment and retaliation.
“Almost 20 states passed new laws to provide greater protections, to protect more workers, to make it easier to challenge harassment at work and beyond. We continue every single day to hear from survivors… I don’t think the world will ever be the same as it was before Me Too went viral.” — Fatima Goss Graves
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I have dedicated my career to helping litigants resolve their legal disputes through the mediation and dispute resolution process, and by helping dissect the legal issues that shape our public discourse and workplace dynamics, whether it be as a radio and podcast show host or as a legal analyst in the news. My mission as the host of the Legal Lens radio show and podcast is to empower you with objective, expert-driven insights born from years of practice at the intersection of law and society.
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Angela’s Other Work
Learn more about my book – The Workplace Transformed: 7 Crucial Lessons from the Global Pandemic – here – https://angelareddock-wright.com/book/
Learn more about my work as an employment and Title IX mediator here Angela J. Reddock-Wright | Signature Resolution and on LinkedIn @Angela J. Reddock-Wright, Esq., AWI-CH.
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This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment or civil rights law attorney in your state or city.