Still Unequal After All These Years: Continuing Barriers to Workplace Gender Equality

2015 ACS National Convention, Gender discrimination, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Young v. UPS

Caroline Fredrickson

American Constitution Society
Begin: 0:00

Samuel Bagenstos

University of Michigan Law School
Begin: 3:02

Michael Eastman

Equal Employment Advisory Council
Begin: 25:30

Sarah Fleisch Fink

National Partnership for Women & Families
Begin: 12:47

Maryann Parker

Service Employees International Union
Begin: 16:30

Hon. Jenny Yang

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Begin: 8:45

While workplace gender equality has improved after decades of struggle, there remains a long way to go. Despite passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009, women are still paid just 78 cents for every dollar paid to white men, and the United States is the only developed country that does not provide paid maternity leave. How will the Supreme Court's decision in Young v. UPS impact the application of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act going forward? How can barriers to workplace equality, such as the systemic pay gap, be overcome? Should we look to the states or the federal government to institute and enforce policy reforms on paid maternity leave and gender and pregnancy discrimination laws? Will President Obama's executive actions on paid leave pressure Congress to bring the nation in line with the rest of the world?

Speakers:

Caroline Fredrickson, President, American Constitution Society
Samuel Bagenstos, Frank G. Millard Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School
Michael Eastman, Vice President, Public Policy, Equal Employment Advisory Council
Sarah Fleisch Fink, Senior Policy Counsel for Workplace Programs, National Partnership for Women & Families
Maryann Parker, Associate General Counsel, Service Employees International Union
Hon. Jenny Yang, Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission