Women’s right to freedom of speech in university spaces. The case of Universidad de Buenos Aires Law School

Abstract

In this article we analyze the situation of women in academic spaces, and how its reduced participation can be understood as a structural violation of their right to free speech. As a case study, we analyze a survey on the number of women who participated in academic activities in recent years and a survey on gender representation in teaching and senior positions in the University of Buenos Aires Law School. We hold that the understanding of this situation as a problem of equality as non-submission leads to the acknowledgement of the structural violation of women’s right to free speech as a group. This, in turn, damages the practice of democracy in these university spaces, given the significant loss of voices in the public debate. To do that, we review the Supreme Court of Argentina’s jurisprudential interpretations concerning free speech, equality, and democracy, as well as the most relevant Interamerican Court of Human Rights’ cases.