The Center
We work to champion the rights of girls and women in public places: schools, hospitals, and the justice system. Our work is directly informed by girls, gender-expansive youth, and women, ensuring that our groundbreaking research and innovative policy recommendations are rooted in lived experiences.
Our Mission
The Center on Gender Justice & Opportunity works to uncover and eliminate gender and racial disparities across public systems, including in schools, courtrooms, and hospitals. We investigate the root causes of injustice through industry-leading research, propose solutions-oriented changes to law and policy, and engage stakeholders and the public to create momentum and meaningful change. Our efforts are informed by girls and gender-expansive young people and rooted in their lived experiences.
Our Guiding Principles
We are rooted in the values of justice and equity. Guided by Georgetown Law’s justice-focused mission — “Law is but the means, justice is the end” — we are committed to building a just future. We work and lead with consistent and uncompromising adherence to the highest moral and ethical standards. We work to address injustice from its root causes while championing the rights and dignity of girls and women — following an approach that is grounded in recognizing girls’ strengths.
We believe in the power of story. We ground ourselves and our work in the real-world experiences of youth. We believe in the power of personal narrative to compel action and build common ground.
We defend the right to childhood. Treating children in ways that are appropriate for their developmental stages and respecting their individuality is essential. In our work building a world that is free of racism and gender bias for young people, we seek to strengthen girls’ health, education, and wellness and reduce the risk of unjust and uncompassionate treatment.
History
The Center on Gender Justice & Opportunity at Georgetown Law grew out of the Center on Poverty and Inequality’s Project on Marginalized Girls, which began with a grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies in 2011. We became the Center on Poverty’s Initiative on Gender Justice & Opportunity in 2018 in recognition of our standing as a national leader on girls’ issues and a key member of the community.
In 2023, we became an independent Center at Georgetown Law, which allowed us to expand our work and our reach.
Team
The Center’s team comprises dedicated professionals alongside academic experts, alumni, and youth advisors. Our work is enriched by the young people and students who support our work with diverse perspectives and energy. Meet the passionate individuals behind our mission.
Supporters
The generous philanthropic support of our funders fuels our mission to create a more equitable world for girls, gender-expansive youth, and women. Learn more about their unwavering commitment to make our work possible.
