Gender Discrimination: Federal Laws

As with race, the United States still has work to do with respect to discrimination on the basis of one's gender. This type of discrimination generally impacts women, who typically earn less and are promoted less often than their male counterparts. Certain federal laws have attempted to level the playing field, including the following:

Civil Rights Act of 1964: Title VII - Prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of gender
Equal Credit Opportunity Act - Prohibits discrimination against credit applicants on the basis of gender
Fair Housing Act - Prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on gender
Equal Pay Act of 1963 - Requires equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender
Family and Medical Leave Act - Employees given the right to take time off from work for an illness or to care for an ill family member
Pregnancy Discrimination Act - Prohibits discrimination against women who are pregnant, perceived to be pregnant, or who plan to become pregnant
Title IX - Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, added in 1972, requires parity among educational programs with respect to gender