Joan C. Williams, JD

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Described as having “something approaching rock star status” in her field by The New York Times Magazine, Joan C. Williams has played a central role in reshaping the conversation about work, gender, and class over the past quarter century. Williams is a Distinguished Professor of Law, Hastings Foundation Chair, and Founding Director of the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Williams’ path-breaking work helped create the field of work-family studies and modern workplace flexibility policies.

Williams’ 2014 book What Works for Women at Work (co-written with daughter Rachel Dempsey) was praised by The New York Times Book Review: “Deftly combining sociological research with a more casual narrative style, What Works for Women at Work offers unabashedly straightforward advice in a how-to primer for ambitious women.” Following its success, Sheryl Sandberg and LeanIn.org asked Joan to create short videos sharing the strategies discussed in the book. The videos have been downloaded over 975,000 times and are featured by Virgin Airlines as in-flight entertainment, seen literally around the world. Most recently, Williams co-authored a workbook companion to What Works for Women at Work, available now from NYU Press.

Williams is one of the 10 most cited scholars in her field. She has authored 11 books, over 90 academic articles, and her work has been covered in publications from Oprah Magazine to The Atlantic. Her awards include the Families and Work Institute’s Work Life Legacy Award (2014), the American Bar Foundation’s Outstanding Scholar Award (2012), and the ABA’s Margaret Brent Women Award for Lawyers of Achievement (2006). In 2008, she gave the Massey Lectures in the History of American Civilization at Harvard. Her Harvard Business Review article, “What So Many People Don’t Get About the U.S. Working Class” has been read over 3.7 million times and is now the most read article in HBR’s 90-plus year history.

Kindred Media Posts and Podcasts:

Class Conflict, Breastfeeding Policy And Creating Systemic Change: A Podcast Interview and Transcript With Joan C. Williams, on Kindred Media here.

New Groundbreaking Report From WorkLife Law Shows Widespread Breastfeeding Discrimination

Center for Worklife Law’s Projects:

Free National Worker and Student Legal Hotline: 415-703-8276

Pregnant@Work. This online resource center provides tools and educational materials for pregnant and breastfeeding workers, the healthcare professionals who treat them, and the attorneys who represent them. It also has useful materials for companies, human resources professionals, and management attorneys that can assist in navigating the many legal and practical considerations around pregnancy and breastfeeding accommodations.

The Pregnancy Scholar. This site provides resources for students, postdocs, faculty, administrators, and others in institutions of higher education, including colleges, community colleges, universities, and similar programs. Those interested in learning more about Title IX pregnancy protection in grade school should review the Department of Education’s Guidance on the topic.

Exposed: Discrimination Against Breastfeeding Workers. This first comprehensive report on breastfeeding discrimination reveals widespread and devastating consequences for breastfeeding workers. 

Kindred Breastfeeding Articles, Podcasts and Videos

National Breastfeeding Organizations

Kindred articles on Paid Parental Leave and Paid Family Leave

Kindred articles and videos on Worksite Breastfeeding-Friendly Law

Kindred’s Equity-Diversity-Inclusion Resources

Kindred’s Black Mothers and Fathers Resources

Milk – The Food That Helped Evolve Humanity, A TEDx Talk by Laurel Wilson

Saving Tomorrow Today: An African American Breastfeeding Blueprint

Breastfeeding Posts on Kindred by Darcia Narvaez, PhD

Breastfeeding In The USA—A Little History, Part 1 Of 2

Breastfeeding’s Importance—What Science Tells Us, Part 2 Of 2

Safe Infant Sleep And Breastfeeding Are Partners

Breastfeeding Moms Face Illegal Discrimination At Work

What Do You Know About Breastfeeding? 

Breastfeeding As Companionship: An Ancient Tradition 

The Myth Of “Breastfeeding Is Optional” 

Breast Milk Keeps Time And May Set Baby’s Clock 

New Book, Unlatched, Explores Whether Breastfeeding Is Vital 

• Breastfeeding Reduces Child Abuse/Neglect VIDEO
• Answering the Critics: Breastmilk Separate of Breastfeeding Does Not Produce the Same Results VIDEO and Article
• Why Sleep Training Is Bad for Moms and Babies: Breastfeeding Moms Get More and Better Sleep VIDEO and Article
• New Research Shows Breastfeeding’s Healing Impact on Sexual Assault Trauma VIDEO and Article
• How Breastfeeding Supports Maternal Mental Health VIDEO and How Other Cultures Support Moms Postpartum Article