Although both sexes expressed a lack of comfort in forging new kinds of cross-gender relationships, the cost is clearly borne by women in the legal context, a context which is still overwhelmingly controlled by men. What is valued and rewarded by firms is based on the expectations and perceptions of those in power. In most cases, those who set the values and make the evaluations are men. The patterns of women's lives, particularly child birthing and rearing, are punished by contemporary compensation systems. The study suggests that lawyers take a hard look at what is valued and rewarded in the legal profession.
Discussion needs to occur and conscious decisions made.