Prof Frances Camilleri-Cassar: An Active Spirit
Prof Frances Camilleri Cassar
In honour of International Women's Day, we had the pleasure of interviewing Professor Frances Camilleri-Cassar, the first woman to attain Full Professorship in the Faculty of Laws, at the University of Malta. Her journey in academia is a testament to perseverance and hard work, and she inspires women everywhere who aspire to achieve their dreams in their chosen fields. We hope her story and insights will encourage and empower other women to strive relentlessly in breaking down barriers and achieving their goals.
As the first woman to attain Full Professorship in the Faculty of Laws, could you tell us what this achievement means to you?
Attaining full professorship is a significant milestone for anyone in academia really, however, to me, it means much more, as women's share tends to be less than twenty per cent of the total number of full professors. The appointment has also served as validation for the work I have been doing over the last three decades of my life, and may I add, with little or no regrets. It has been a long journey filled with perseverance, persistence, and the determination to never give up. I have always been interested in my academic work and forever curious and enthusiastic in learning more. For example, just three years ago, I was awarded cum laude the higher diploma of legal procurator. I have effortlessly always been a go-getter in life, and my determination is key to tackling obstacles that obstruct my way.
Can you share with us a key moment in your academic journey?
I've had many key moments, however, one which comes to mind at the moment is the publication of my PhD thesis as a book. I studied at the University of Nottingham through a scholarship awarded to me by the University of Malta, and the supervisors assigned to my doctorate were English professors there. The book launch was sponsored by the University of Malta and held at the Valletta Campus, and one of my professors flew to Malta specifically to attend the event. This was another example of the validation of my capabilities and hard work.
How did you combine your social science background with law?
Apart from the fact that I found the study of law to be a super interesting discipline, interdisciplinarity suggests that law cannot be studied on its merits alone, but has to be studied within the society it is prevalent. After all, as the Romans put it: ubi societas, ibi jus i.e. where there is society there is law. In my teaching, I have integrated my social science background with different areas in law quite easily, and this tends to make my lectures that much more interesting for law students, I think!
In your opinion, what are the significant challenges women face in academia?
In academia, it is particularly challenging because it follows a pyramid structure. The people at the top have always been men. Although women are encouraged to pursue careers more than ever, they still face challenges in the workplace, wherever they are. Family responsibilities can also be a challenge. Although it is improving, women still tend to take on more responsibility for the care of their families, which can impact their career progression.
Do you think that there are societal expectations of women?
In the past, one of the biggest challenges was the societal expectation that married women should not be in employment. As a young graduate in Economics, I worked for the Central Bank, where women were encouraged to resign from their job by dangling a carrot in the form of a marriage grant, which of course, all women would fall for when still young and starting a new life and family. Sounds bizarre, however, the repercussions remain until today in that intermittent employment means a gap in social security contribution and a lower pension in old age. In addition, our social structure tends to view men as potentially more competent than women, which can make it daunting for women to reach the top. This is changing slowly but surely, however, society still expects women to take on the bulk of familial responsibilities.
What advice would you give to young women interested in pursuing a career in academia?
My advice to young women interested in pursuing a career in academia is to stay interested and persistent and not be discouraged by obstacles which are bound to come in the way at some point in time. With determination and hard work, women can get to wherever they want. It's also crucial for women to have a strong support system, and that is the inner self!