We’ve come a long way from the days when women went to college just to get married and become a housewife. There are more women in the workplace today than ever before, but 42 percent of women still report facing some form of gender discrimination. We’d like to think things have changed, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.
Thankfully, the US has laws in place that help protect against gender discrimination in education and the workplace. Have you been the target of gender discrimination? Read on to learn about those laws and why you should contact an attorney to help you enforce your civil rights!
Gender Discrimination in Education
Before you make it to the workplace, you have to get educated. The US government recognizes that gender discrimination happens at all stages of life, and as a result, they passed the federal civil rights law, Title IX.
Title IX technically protects against discrimination based on sex, but that has been extrapolated to mean gender as well. It initially ensured that people of both sexes had equal access to education, including the ability to participate in team sports. Today, Title IX has been expanded to protect against sexual harassment, as well.
Title IX regulations expand the definition of sexual harassment to include sex-based crimes like sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence. All universities must have a Title IX coordinator on campus to manage claims of gender or sex-based discrimination.
If your school fails to protect your rights under Title IX, then you may be able to seek recourse by hiring an attorney.
Gender Discrimination in the Workplace
Gender discrimination in the workplace is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Recent case law has expanded that protection to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This means an employer cannot discriminate against someone because of their gender in hiring decisions, pay, promotions, and terminations.
Gender discrimination also encompasses sexual harassment in the workplace. In general, there are two types of sexual harassment. The first is quid pro quo, and the second is hostile environment.
Quid pro quo sexual harassment means giving something for something. Essentially, if a supervisor promises a raise or promotion in exchange for a sexual favor, then that is quid pro quo sexual harassment. Hostile environment sexual harassment refers to a more pervasive environment of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Why Should You Get a Gender Discrimination Lawyer?
If you’ve experienced gender discrimination in the education environment or workplace, you don’t have to resign yourself to it. There are many instances in which a gender discrimination lawyer can help you right the wrong you’ve experienced.
1. Understand Your Rights
One of the most powerful things the best lawyers can do for you is to help you understand your rights. Depending on where you live, there may be additional protections in place based on state and local laws. For example, you can learn more from this attorney about your rights in the state of Pennsylvania.
Once you know your rights, you can plan your next steps to protect them.
2. Preserve Evidence of Discrimination
In order to have a successful gender discrimination claim, it’s important to preserve all forms of evidence. Your lawyer will help you determine how to properly document the discrimination and which evidence you should pull to use for your case. They will also let you know if there are steps you need to take at work first to try to resolve the issue before you file a lawsuit.
3. File a Claim with the EEOC
There is a whole government entity tasked with protecting the civil rights of employees. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has a portal in which people who have experienced gender discrimination file claims. You have 180 days from the date of discrimination to file a charge with the EEOC.
If filing an EEOC feels overwhelming to do on your own, then you can enlist the help of your attorney to help you navigate the claim process. They’re familiar with how the EEOC works and are able to tell you how to frame your complaint and which evidence to use to support it.
4. Enforce Your Right to Equal Compensation
Sometimes, the only thing you need to do to enforce your right to equal compensation is to have a good gender discrimination lawyer on your side. Your lawyer can help you come up with a plan of action to get the pay you deserve without filing a lawsuit. This is often accomplished by sending a strongly worded letter to your employer informing them that you are aware of the pay discrepancy.
If the letter isn’t effective, your lawyer can help you determine your next steps.
5. Sue for Compensation
The final way in which you can enforce your rights is to sue for compensation. This often starts with a demand letter to the employer, after which the employer begins an internal investigation of the discrimination claim. Demand letters often result in a settlement offer from the employer.
If you aren’t comfortable with the settlement offer, however, then you have the right to continue on to a lawsuit. Lawsuits are a lengthy process, however, so prepare to wait a year or more for your case to move to the court. Your employer can help you get a better idea of how long the process takes.
You Don’t Have to Tolerate Gender Discrimination Anywhere
Gender discrimination is more common in education and the workplace than you’d expect it to be. If you want to ensure that your civil rights are protected, then you need to stay on top of civil rights laws and hire an attorney if you’ve been discriminated against. The harder we fight to protect our civil rights now, the better it’ll be for future generations.
Are you interested in staying on top of the latest legal, entertainment, and technology news? You’ve come to the right place. Check out the rest of our blog for everything you’re looking for!
