What are some laws that were passed in the United States that benefit women?

Answer 1

LAWS THAT WERE PASSED IN THE US THAT BENEFIT WOMEN:

After centuries of struggle, the Nineteenth Amendment, passed June 4, 1919, made it illegal to deny voting rights to women. That historic moment opened the door for women to take a leadership role in the political landscape that shapes their lives. Since then, persistent and hard-working women, and their fair-minded brothers, have been working diligently to address inequities in the legal system, employment, education, and many other areas of life. The following is a brief survey of some extremely significant landmarks in legislation that has benefitted women.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 - CRA - Title VII - Equal Employment Opportunities - 42 US Code Chapter 21 prevents employment discrimination on the basis of sex, among other categories. It addresses among a host of other things, equal pay for equal work. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that Title VII's prohibition against sex discrimination includes sexual harassment as a type of illegal sex discrimination. Moreover some states, such as Illinois, Michigan and North Dakota, have laws expressly prohibiting sexual harassment. Most other states interpret their laws prohibiting sex discrimination to include sexual harassment.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was a landmark legislation that assured educational equality for women. It requires that educational institutions that receive federal funds must treat men and women equally. The legislation covers all educational activities, and complaints under Title IX alleging discrimination in fields such as science or math education, or in other aspects of academic life such as access to health care and athletic programs.

In 1978, the U.S. Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (P.L. 95-555), an amendment to the sex discrimination section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to address discrimination when expectant women are fired, not hired, or otherwise discriminated against due to their pregnancy or intention to become pregnant.

Domestic violence statutes have been enacted that force jurisdictions to address and prosecute violence against women that in most cases, historically, was ignored by law enforcement and courts.

FEDERAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN STATUTES AND ELEMENTS FOR FEDERAL PROSECUTION

Violence Against Women Act Offenses

• Interstate travel to commit domestic violence - 18 U.S.C. § 2261

• Interstate stalking - 18 U.S.C. § 2261A

• Interstate travel to violate a Protection Order - 18 U.S.C. § 2262

Firearms Offenses

• Possession of a firearm while subject to a Protection Order - 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8)

• Transfer of a firearm to a person subject to a Protection Order - 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(8)

• Possession of a firearm after conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence - 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)

• Transfer of a firearm to a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence - 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(9)

• Official use exemption from firearms offenses (except §§ 922(d)(9) and 922(g)(9)) - 18 U.S.C. § 925(a)(1)

Other Relevant Statutes

• Full Faith and Credit - 18 U.S.C. § 2265 • Brady statement - 18 U.S.C. § 922(s)

• Right of victim to be heard at bail hearing - 18 U.S.C. § 2263

• Crime Victims' Rights Act - 18 U.S.C. § 3771 • Restitution - 18 U.S.C. § 2264

• Self-Petitioning for battered immigrant women and children - 8 U.S.C. § 1154

Finally, most state codes that govern Family and Domestic Relations have been updated to modernize laws that historically favored men.