Why isn't Sex Discrimination Disappearing?

Why are sex discrimination claims so prevalent in a supposedly enlightened age? Yeah, it's a pretty tough question and there is no way I'm going to be able to definitively answer it in a blog entry. Nor is it possible to pinpoint reasons in a magazine article. But Judy Greenwald does a nice job of identifying some major factors and theories in Gender Bias Claims Not Slowing Down (Business Insurance, may require subscription).

She identifies several possibilities for the continuance of sex discrimination claims: more women in the workplace, poor economy, increased litigiousness, more aggressive enforcement agencies (EEOC, DOL), a shift to subtler discrimination, technology-based harassment, different familial roles... oh, and who's this guy?

Philip K. Miles III, an associate with law firm McQuaide Blasko in State College, Pa., said in addition, “Although we do live in a more enlightened age, you still have just the remnants” of earlier times.

“Management and leadership in business today are still comprised of people who maybe grew up in a different time in which gender discrimination was more prevalent,” said Mr. Miles.

There's certainly no shortage of theories, and several factors likely play a role. Check out the full article for a great overview.

Posted by Philip Miles, an attorney with McQuaide Blasko in State College, Pennsylvania in the firm's civil litigation and labor and employment law practice groups.