Despite the tremendous progress made in the struggle for gender equality, women still face violence, discrimination, and institutional barriers to equal participation in society. The ACLU pushes for systemic reform in institutions that perpetuate discrimination against women, focusing its work in the areas of education, employment, and violence against women.
Survivors of gender-based violence face discrimination when police, schools, landlords, and other institutions fail to adequately address and prevent violence and also when laws and policies penalize them, impeding the ability of women and girls to live safely and with dignity.
In the employment realm, laws and workplace policies that exclude women from certain job sectors and allow them to be forced out of the workplace when they become pregnant or return to work after having a baby cause persistent disparities in women’s income, wealth, and economic security. Women in Vermont still make just 84 cents for every dollar earned by men. Nationwide, Black women earn only 64 cents and Latinas only 54 cents for each dollar earned by white men.
In the education sector, many public schools have introduced programs based on unfounded stereotypes about the learning abilities and preferences of boys and girls, limiting equal educational opportunities for all.
The ACLU of Vermont has long fought to end gender-based discrimination. For example:
· In 1976, we filed suit on behalf of a Marine discharged because she was pregnant.
· In 1978, we represented a woman denied the opportunity to become a fish and game instructor on account of her gender.
· IN 1986, we sued on behalf of a sheriff’s deputy discriminated against on the basis of her pregnancy.
· In 2002, we won a settlement on behalf of a postal worker suspended without pay because she was pregnant.
· In 2007, we supported the passage of a Vermont law prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.
Vermont has the opportunity to lead the way on women's rights–guaranteeing universal access to reproductive healthcare, ending workplace discrimination, ensuring pay equity, defending the rights of incarcerated women, and more. The ACLU has been at the forefront of countless past struggles for equality, and will continue fighting to both advance and defend women's rights.
