Self Defense for Women Lawyers: Enforcement of Employment Rights

Employment and a concomitant opportunity to compete on the basis of individual merit for the rewards of achievement, whether they be money, power, prestige, personal satisfaction in a job well done, or the fulfillment of broad social aims, contribute to the assertion of legitimate human needs for independence and self-respect, and contribute to the expression and realization of individual potential. Women professionals and professional employers need to understand the applicable law regarding the proof of sex discrimination, what exceptions there are to prohibited sex discrimination, the procedures for enforcing that law and the benefits or detriments to be expected from enforcement proceedings. The purpose of this commentary is to analyze the employment rights of women, the obligations of their employers under the law to afford equal employment opportunity, and the important stages and available remedies in a fair employment practices proceeding should litigation become necessary.