Women's rights in the workforce
Dear The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama,
We are pleased to present you with this petition affirming one simple statement:
"Women enjoy most of the freedoms today that men enjoy, and have joined the American work force in
droves to work as doctors, lawyers, teachers, designers, truck drivers and in many other professions.
Discrimination against women still exists in various forms, particularly in the workplace. Women
should know their rights as U.S. workers and take responsibility for helping to stop rights violations in
the workplace Women have worked in some capacity in the U.S. since its inception, but only in menial
jobs for very low pay. During World War I, women entered the work force in higher numbers due to
the shortage of men. It wasn’t until World War II that they went to work in the armed forces and design. During this period,
women took positions formerly open only to men; 7 million women entered the workforce, 2 million of
those in heavy industry. They still had no formal workplace rights until the passage of Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act states that employers may not discriminate against people on the basis
of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.Title VII makes it illegal for employers to exclude
qualified women from any available position. Employers would often hire less qualified men for
positions to which women had applied. This law empowers women to sue if they feel a potential
employer has excluded them from a position based on gender. President John F. Kennedy signed the
Equal Pay Act in 1963, which states that employers must pay women the same amount they would pay
a man in the same position. In the past, companies paid women far less than their male counterparts for
the same position. Women can sue their employers if they can prove that a male in the same position
earns higher wages. Both of these laws significantly increase the status of women in the workforce.
Women’s rights in the workplace include many facets, such as the right to work if pregnant. An
employer cannot exclude a woman from a position due to pregnancy as long as she can perform
satisfactorily. Employers cannot refuse to hire any person due to marital status, gender or age. In
addition, an employee of any company where a woman works may not sexually harass the woman in
any way. This includes a hostile work environment where the woman must endure sexual comments,
touching or materials, as well as unwanted sexual advances that put her in fear of losing her job if she
does not comply. Women should report all advances of this sort to the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission or a supervisor.Because of workplace rights, women enjoy freedom to work in almost any
position they choose. They join the armed forces, work as cab drivers, own businesses and become
executives in large corporations. As the financial status of women increases, so does the welfare of their
families, children and the nation.According to Sexual Harassment Support, a nonprofit support group
for victims of sexual harassment, only 5 percent to 15 percent of victims of workplace sexual
harassment report these violations to their employers or proper authorities for fear of ridicule, losing
their jobs or not being believed. All victims of sexual harassment should seriously consider reporting it.
Taking this step protects America’s workforce from workplace rights violations."
Attached is a list of individuals who have added their names to this petition, as well as additional comments
written by the petition signers themselves.
Sincerely,
Treanakay Bostwick
