Legal Definitions - gender discrimination

Gender discrimination is when someone is treated unfairly because of their gender. This is also called sex discrimination. It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of their gender, according to federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Discrimination can happen in many areas, like employment, voting rights, housing, credit extension, public education, and access to public facilities.

For example, if a woman is not hired for a job because the employer thinks women are not as good as men, that is gender discrimination. Another example is if a man is paid more than a woman for doing the same job, that is also gender discrimination.

Discrimination can also happen based on other characteristics like race, age, nationality, religion, or handicap. It is important to treat everyone equally and not discriminate against them because of who they are.