The American women’s rights movement grew out of the aboliti…
The American women’s rights movement grew out of the abolitionist movement of the nineteenth century. At this time in history, women were considered to be inferior in status, both by law and custom. In 1919, the women’s suffrage amendment, known as the Nineteenth Amendment, finally achieved the necessary two-thirds vote in Congress, and it was sent to the states for ratification and the necessary votes in July 1920. One hundred years after the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, the quest to end gender inequality and discrimination continues in multiple arenas, particularly securing employment, compensation, and ensuring a safe work environment free from sexual harassment. The ERA was an amendment to the Constitution that stated, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” It passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and was sent to the states with a seven-year deadline for ratification. This table displays a timeline of important events in the evolution of civil rights for women. Examine the table and answer the accompanying questions. 1920 Ratification of Nineteenth Amendment The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. 1963 Equal Pay Act (EPA) This act “prohibits sex-based wage discrimination between men and women in the same establishment who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility under similar working conditions.” 1964 Civil Rights Act Title VII of this act prohibits sex-based discrimination in employment, including hiring decisions, training, promotion and advancement, and pay. 1972 Title IX of the Education Act This act ensures that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity (e.g. college sports) receiving Federal financial assistance (which includes virtually all colleges and universities). 1976 Craig v. Boren In a 7–2 decision, the Court held that an Oklahoma statute about different drinking ages for men and women made unconstitutional gender classifications. 2007 Ledbetter v. Goodyear In this decision, the Court ruled that even though Lilly Ledbetter was paid a lower wage than her male counterparts, she should have filed her claim within 180 days of her first paycheck. 2009 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act of 2009 This law establishes that pay discrimination claims on the basis of sex, race, national origin, age, religion, and disability accrue whenever an employee receives a discriminatory paycheck, as well as when a discriminatory pay decision or practice is adopted, when a person becomes subject to the decision or practices, or when a person is otherwise affected by the decision or practice. Answer the following question: In Ledbetter v. Goodyear, the Court ruled that even though Lilly Ledbetter was paid a lower wage than her male counterparts, she should have filed her claim within ________________________ days of her first paycheck.
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