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Workplace Inequality: Female Discrimination

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Workplace Inequality: Female Discrimination

Over the last 60 years, women have seen their rights evolve and improve; however, many believe the separation between man and woman is still too great especially when it comes to discrimination in the workplace. Today, in the workplace, women face inequality in pay, ability to receive promotions, and ability to obtain a leadership or executive position. Women on average earn .77 to every $1 a man earns and face discrimination and are often overlooked for promotions. In addition, even successful women tend to hit a “glass ceiling” when it comes to receiving leadership roles and executive positions. Women in executive positions also, on average, earn less than men in comparable executive positions. While legislation has been put in place to eliminate workplace discrimination, many believe that it has not done enough and the inequality that exists is still too prevalent.
Women saw their rights increase in 1964 when Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This Act is the most important piece of anti-discriminatory legislation in history, as it was a major starting point in ending discrimination. This Act ended discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, and gender and required equal access to employment with the creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC regulates workplace discrimination and “Made it unlawful for an employer to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions or privileges or employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin (National Archives).” With the EEOC, it was now illegal to discriminate against women when hiring, promoting, and firing. Additionally, in 1963, Congress passed the Equal Pay

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