Sex Discrimination and Harassment Under Title VII

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Sex does not only refer to biological sex (whether you were born male or female). Later court decisions and amendments to Title VII have clarified that sex discrimination also includes discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy.

Additionally, Title VII prohibits harassment at your workplace. There are two types of harassment: 1) quid pro quo harassment and 2) hostile work environment.

Quid pro quo harassment means a coworker (often it's your boss) asked you for a sexual favor in exchange for you receiving an employment-related benefit or avoiding an employment-related punishment. By contrast, harassment based on a hostile work environment means you experienced unwanted sexual advances, remarks, gestures, touching, or other actions from a coworker, but the coworker didn't ask you for sexual favors in exchange for something else. Harassment can happen to you regardless of your gender, so both men and women can experience harassment at work.

Thickstun Luo LLC may be able to help you pursue a legal claim in Illinois or Indiana if you have experienced harassment or sex-based employment discrimination. Contact us today for a consultation.

LEGALESE is an online blog by Thickstun Luo LLC. The blog explains legal terms and concepts in plain English.

Disclaimer: The LEGALESE blog and the posts therein do not form an attorney-client relationship between you and Thickstun Luo LLC. Furthermore, this blog is not intended to render legal advice regarding your specific situation. You should consult an attorney for specific legal advice. Some content in LEGALESE blog posts pertain to state-specific legal rules and concepts that may not be applicable in every jurisdiction.