We like to think that women and men are equal in today’s modern society. There are plenty of women who have broken barriers and stereotypes in order to achieve great things. However, there are still systems in place that perpetuate inequality between the sexes. Whether we are talking about unequal pay, sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, or projecting traditional values, it is clear that these issues still exist. Here, I will discuss gender discrimination as well as what you can do to get justice for them.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment can occur in a wide variety of settings, and it can happen to anyone – including men. Still, the overwhelming majority of sexual harassment cases report women as victims. Sexual harassment can range from seemingly small issues, such as inappropriate comments, to large issues, such as rape. Sexual harassment is defined as any type of unwanted sexual attention from one person to another. This might include, but is not limited to:
- Inappropriate sexual comments.
- Remarks about a woman’s body.
- Catcalling.
- Unwanted touching.
- Forced sexual acts.
- Requests for sexual favors.
If you are a victim of sexual harassment, you can take some steps to seek restitution. You can file criminal and civil charges to see that the perpetrator is brought to justice.
The defendant in this situation will face criminal charges, as sexual harassment is a crime, especially if the harassment escalates to sexual assault. The defendant will likely face jail time and other issues for sexual assault. In addition, you can file a civil charge against the perpetrator. The civil charge will seek to provide you compensation for your pain and suffering. While this won’t change what happened, it will help you move on with the rest of your life.
Pregnancy Discrimination
This discrimination is another issue that many women face, especially in the workplace. Pregnancy constitutes protected status under the United States employment law. This means that if you are discriminated against in your job due to a pregnancy, you can take action against the perpetrator.
The 1964 Civil Rights Act includes an amendment called the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. This protects women from pregnancy related discrimination in the workplace. So, if you face any issues such as hiring, firing, benefit issues, or maternity leave in the workplace due to a pregnancy, you can seek protection under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
Women also have protection against assault when they are pregnant. Assaulting a pregnant woman carries a higher penalty than regular assault does. This is because pregnant women are considered “protected people.” If you are the victim of abuse, make sure that you tell the police that you are pregnant. This can have an impact on your case.
Gender discrimination and sexism are unfortunate realities in our society. But, progress continues. The law protects women from overt inequality in many different situations. To continue the quest for equality, it is important that you report inequality. This can help you as an individual, and it can also set a precedent for intolerable behavior in our society.