Not long ago there were separate help wanted ads for women and men. For too many women, discrimination still plays a role in the jobs they get, the wages they are paid, and the promotions they receive. Whether it is unwelcome sexual advances on the job, gender-based pay scales that lower women’s wages, or old-fashioned attitudes about pregnancy or certain racial or ethnic communities, many women still work in unfair environments that make it difficult for them to succeed. At the same time, many women are unaware of their legal rights or what to do if they believe their rights have been violated. This is a critical obstacle for all women, particularly for low-income women, women moving from welfare to work, and others living on the economic margins.
The National Partnership pushes for vigorous enforcement of employment discrimination laws and expanded job opportunities for women. We educate women about their legal rights, and inform the public about the severe costs of discrimination to our families and our economy. In the summer of 2004 we release a groundbreaking study to mark the 40th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Women at Work: Looking Behind the Numbers 40 Years After the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a comprehensive analysis of previously unpublished EEOC data on discrimination charges filed by women in the workplace. The report finds that, despite important progress, discrimination persists and in fact, for many women is on the rise. Through this report, coupled with our other advocacy efforts, we want to shed new light on the different types of discrimination women continue to face and the importance and effectiveness of anti-discrimination enforcement efforts. Our goal is to ensure that women have an equal opportunity to succeed on the job, and that discrimination, much like the gender-based help wanted ads, becomes a thing of the past.
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