The New Jersey Employment Law Firm Blog
New Jersey gender discrimination statutes protect workers from discrimination on the basis of sex or gender. An important feature of many types of sex discrimination is “sex stereotyping,” meaning the use of stereotypes commonly associated with one gender to assess an employee’s performance or a job applicant’s suitability for a job. Many cases deal with sex stereotyping as a way of penalizing an employee who fails to embody outward stereotypes, such as a female employee who an employer thinks appears too masculine, or a male employee who appears feminine. A recent study addresses another aspect of sex stereotyping that could lead to workplace discrimination: the association of traits like confidence and intelligence with men, leading to more negative impressions of women possessing those same traits.
The U.S. Supreme Court first recognized sex stereotyping as a form of sex discrimination in Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228 (1989). The plaintiff in that case alleged that the defendant passed her over for partnership because she did not conform to various feminine stereotypes. While partners at the firm praised the plaintiff’s ability to do her job, they also stated that her “aggressiveness apparently spilled over into abrasiveness.” Id. at 234. These traits, however, were not necessarily viewed as negatives in male employees. The court held that employers may not “evaluate employees by assuming or insisting that they matched the stereotype associated with their group.” Id. at 251.
The Third Circuit addressed sex stereotyping of male employees in a case involving a self-described “effeminate man” who did not “fit in” with his “rough around the edges” male coworkers. Prowel v. Wise Business Forms, Inc., 579 F.3d 285, 287 (3rd Cir. 2009). He alleged a lengthy pattern of workplace harassment, including the use of nicknames like “Princess,” “Rosebud,” and others best not repeated. The defendant sought to dismiss the case on the ground that the plaintiff, who is gay, was actually making “an artfully pleaded claim of sexual orientation discrimination,” which the Third Circuit has found not to be covered under federal law. Id. at 291. See also Bibby v. Phila. Coca Cola Bottling Co., 260 F.3d 257 (3rd Cir. 2001). The court found, however, that the plaintiff’s claim centered on discrimination “because he did not conform to [the defendant’s] vision of how a man should look, speak, and act,” rather than his sexual orientation itself. Prowel at 292.
The study mentioned above, published in the American Sociological Review in March 2018, examines discrimination against high-achieving female job applicants. The authors note that men’s GPAs do not have much impact on responses to job applications from employers, but they found that “women benefit from moderate achievement but not high achievement.” Women with exceptional academic credentials were substantially less likely to receive callbacks. The phenomenon appears similar to the New Jersey Supreme Court’s observation that “females aspiring to…high status jobs are continuously subjected to a double standard.” Matter of Vey, 135 N.J. 306, 310 (1994).
The gender discrimination attorneys at the Resnick Law Group represent employees and job seekers in New Jersey and New York, helping them assert their rights in claims under federal and state laws. You can contact us at 973-781-1204, at (646) 867-7997, or online today to schedule a confidential consultation to see how we can help you.
More Blog Posts:
NLRB Reverses ALJ Ruling in Sex Discrimination Case, The New Jersey Employment Law Firm Blog, March 23, 2018
While New Jersey Employment Law Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, U.S. Supreme Court Denies Petition to Review Extent of Federal Law, The New Jersey Employment Law Firm Blog, February 1, 2018
Entrepreneurs in New Jersey and Around the Country Push Back Against Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, The New Jersey Employment Law Firm Blog, January 12, 2018