Because of Sex: One Law, Ten Cases, and Fifty Years That Changed American Women's Lives at Work

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MeticulouslyresearchedandrewardingtoreadThomasisagiftedstoryteller.TheNewYorkTimesBookReview
Bestknownasamonumentalachievementofthecivilrightsmovement,the1964CivilRightsActalsorevolutionizedthelivesofAmericasworkingwomen.TitleVIIofthelawmadeitillegaltodiscriminatebecauseofsex.ButthatsimplephrasedidntmeanmuchuntilordinarywomenbeganusingthelawtogetjusticeonthejobandsometooktheirfightsallthewaytotheSupremeCourt.AmongthemwereIdaPhillips,deniedanassemblylinejobbecauseshehadapreschool-agechild;KimRawlinson,whofoughttobecomeaprisonguardamansjob;MechelleVinson,whobroughtalawsuitforsexualabusebeforesexualharassmentevenhadaname;AnnHopkins,deniedpartnershipataBigEightaccountingfirmbecausethemeninchargethoughtsheneeded"acourseatcharmschool;andmostrecently,PeggyYoung,UPStruckdriver,forcedtotakeanunpaidleavewhilepregnantbecausesheaskedforatemporaryreprievefromheavylifting.
Theseunsungheroinesvictories,andthoseoftheotherwomenprofiledinGillianThomas'BecauseofSex,dismantledaMadMenworldwherewomencouldonlyhopetoplaysupportingroles;wheresexualharassmentwasjustthewaythingsare;andwherepregnancymeantgettingapinkslip.
Throughfirst-personaccountsandvividnarrative,BecauseofSextellsthestoryofhowonelaw,ourhighestcourt,andafewtenaciouswomenchangedtheAmericanworkplaceforever.
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