New York City Sex Discrimination Lawyers

While these are some of the more explicit examples of sex or gender discrimination, many times an employer’s policies or procedures will be reflective of discriminatory behavior. For instance, if an employer requires a specific hiring requirement or test that, in practice, keeps people of a certain gender or gender identity out of the workplace, that is considered sex discrimination. This behavior is still unlawful, even if the employer did not put that requirement or test in place with the explicit goal of keeping out people of other genders. 

In essence, if the behavior, actions, or policies of an employer negatively affect the terms and conditions of your employment, then discrimination may be present. Terms and conditions can include a variety of factors such as job responsibilities, wages, performance evaluations, dress code, holiday or sick days, and working hours, to name a few.

Discriminatory employment practices have a substantial effect on a worker’s livelihood. For instance, pay discrimination can lead to major differences in lifelong earnings, therefore impacting the worker’s family and even generational wealth. Victims of sex discrimination are subject to long-term emotional and financial consequences. For this reason, holding discriminatory employers responsible is incredibly important. It may be daunting to bring about legal action regarding discriminatory behavior in the workplace, but our sex discrimination lawyers can help.

Sex or Gender Discrimination Resources

Experiencing sex discrimination can leave victims feeling vulnerable and unsure of where to turn for help. There are a variety of resources available to victims of sex discrimination, including:

• Lean In: an organization that advocates for the rights of victims of sexual harassment and discrimination.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: the federal institution responsible for fielding sex discrimination claims.
• New York City Commission on Human Rights: a city-wide commission that accepts and investigates sex discrimination complaints.
• The American Psychological Association: a national scientific and professional physiological organization, offering resources regarding different emotional and mental issues 

These resources were established to help victims of sex discrimination navigate the emotional, financial, and personal distress associated with this issue. In addition, our New York City sex discrimination lawyers can help you pursue legal action against employers who have committed sex discrimination. 

What Is Sex or Gender Discrimination?

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines sex discrimination in the workplace as the unfavorable treatment of a job applicant or employee on the basis of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy. State and federal law prohibits all forms of discrimination as it relates to job duties, such as:

Therefore, if an employer perpetuates gender or sex discrimination in any of these areas of employment, they can be held accountable under the law. If you have experienced treatment in your workplace that negatively impacts the terms, conditions, or benefits of your employment, then it may be considered illegal sex discrimination. 

It is also important to note that the term “sex discrimination” can be misleading or ambiguous at first glance. Sex and gender discrimination go hand in hand, and any discrimination based on gender expression or gender identity is also considered sex discrimination under the law. The terms “sex” and “gender” are used interchangeably in anti-discrimination legislation, which can lead to confusion.