Civil Survival E-Learning

Title VII

Visit this Web site to get a good basic review of Title VII: http://www.aclj.org/issues/Resources/Document.aspx?ID=873 Then look further down the page to the list of cases that used Title VII law in settling claims. Read the brief descriptions of each case. Then look more closely at the case United  Automobile Workers v. Johnson Controls, Inc., 499 U.S. 187 (1991).

Explore
1. What was the chemical element at the heart of this case?

2. What risk did this element pose to female workers?

3. Who established the maximum level of risk?

4. What decision was reached by the lower court? Was this upheld by the court of appeals?

Dig Deeper
5. Read paragraph (a) of United case and see how the Supreme Court felt about the treatment men got at the plant in comparison to the treatment women got. What medical information did the court have as it reached its decision?

6. What other court decisions are mentioned as giving insight to the law? Choose one case and describe what part of that decision affected the outcome of the decision in this one.           

7. Do you see this as a simple question of treating men the same as women on a particular job? If not, give your reasons. Discuss them with someone who is willing to take the opposite view for the sake of discussion.

Debate
8. Why did the Supreme Court decide that this was not a valid use of the bona fide occupational defense (BFOQ)? Do you agree?

9. Who is seen as the responsible party when it comes to protecting the welfare of future children?

10. Summarize how this lawsuit reflects the intent of Title VII.