labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Discrimination against women is prohibited in the workplace. Since women were granted equal status in the workplace, they have faced unique challenges. Many of these challenges are related to the common misconception that women are the weaker race. Many other challenges are related to the fact that many women are forced to choose between having a family and having a career. Pregnancy discrimination has also been a major concern for many women in the workplace.

Discrimination against women, for any reason, is strictly illegal. The first major piece of legislation that made discrimination against women illegal was the Civil Rights Act, which was put into place in the 1960s. This Act guaranteed that all people should have equal status in the workplace, including equal work status and equal pay status. Regardless of the law, many women believed that they did not receive equal status, for whatever reason.

When the Family Medical Leave Act was instated, many women felt that they had a renewed sense of opportunity. Like the Pregnancy Discrimination laws, the Family Medical Leave Act clearly reinforced the importance of family and medical leave that is necessary in order to have a family. The Act ensures that most individuals can have up to six weeks off from work in order to care for a new child. Because children are still largely seen as a woman’s responsibility, the act is seen as a major forward movement for many women.

Regardless, many women still feel that there is a glass ceiling in the workplace that they cannot break through. They feel that they are not paid as much as men and are not regarded in the same high light. While discrimination against women is and always will be illegal, many women feel that government regulation has not done much to curtail it. Others believe that it only works in some industries.

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1. Posted by: kathryn north

   i have worked for a company for 16 years they lost the contract and the new company came in and hired all but three of us…we have 16 years women over the age of 50 ,had workmens comp injuries, we are large women on our job in that time peroid. a letter was sent to each of us stating we didnt fit there needs so therefore they did not hire us.. we never had a problem with our co. we have been quite capable performing our work duties..

2. Posted by: Amelia

   Hi kathryn! Because you have posted this under an article on discrimination, it sounds like you believe that this is illegal discrimination because you are female. The best action for you to take is to contact the EEOC at http://www.eeoc.gov and file a complaint. HTH, and thanks for reading the blogs!~ Amelia