The Court and Gender: Employment and Careers Gateway

First Amendment Center, Supreme Court Weighs scope of Gender Equity Law
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/%5Cnews.aspx?id=14441

In exploring the The Supreme Court and gender issues, this link provides information on a Supreme Court case based on the Federal Title IX law. The Court's ruling on the case, Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education, extends the gender-equity law to protect individuals who are fired or reprimanded for reporting inequities and violations. The site offers three news stories that detail the case prior to the Supreme Court hearing, a review of the arguments presented to the Supreme Court, the details of the Court's ruling, and the reactions from individuals and groups connected to the case. There is also a link to the actual case text that teachers could utilize in a class discussion. The case, along with information in the news stories, provides many interesting avenues for discussion and debate such as "Should the Title IX law be expanded to include "whistleblowers" or should they be protected under the First Amendment?"

While there are not extensive links to support further inquiry into the case or gender-equity issues, the quotes from those directly related to the case and other interested parties are a wonderful and useful tool for evaluating point of view, perspective, and frame of reference.

FindLaw Internet Legal Resources: Adkins v. Children's Hospital of District of Columbia (minimum wage)
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=261&invol=525

This site presents this 1923 case, which argued the constitutionality of requiring a minimum wage for women and minors, as was law in the District of Columbia. The decision was that such a law was unconstitutional, since it did not allow women the right to negotiate pay as men did, and also because it didn't allow women to compete with men for many lower paying jobs. There were dissenting arguments, however, from some Justices. This is an interesting site for teachers and students studying cases dealing with gender issues, with labor laws and issues, or who are studying opinions of specific Justices.

FindLaw Internet Legal Resources: West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish (minimum wage)
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=300&invol=379

This site, part of the FindLaw Internet Legal Resources, describes this 1936 case, which argued the constitutionality of requiring a minimum wage for women and minors, as was written into Washington state law. The decision was that such a law was unconstitutional, since it did not allow women the right to negotiate pay as men did, and also because it didn't allow women to compete with men for many lower paying jobs. The site is very thorough, giving historical information and the Justices' opinions and arguments. It is an interesting site for teachers and students studying cases dealing with gender issues, and also with labor laws and issues. High school students may need help with some of the legal vocabulary.

Bradwell v. Illinois (right to practice law)
http://search.eb.com/women/pri/Q00171.html

In 1872 the Supreme Court argued the constitutionality of an Illinois law that did not allow women to become lawyers. The decision was that the law was constitutional; that every state has the right to determine who can practice law in that state. This site presents an excerpt from the opinion of Justice Joseph P. Bradley, who, while he agreed with the Court's decision, had very different reasons for doing so. He believed that women had no place in law because, among other things, the "natural and proper timidity and delicacy which belongs to the female sex evidently unfits it for many of the occupations of civil life." This is a very interesting site for teachers and students researching cases dealing with women's rights and the Fourteenth Amendment.

Bradwell v. State of Illinois, 83 U.S. 130 (1872)
http://historyofprivacy.net/bradwell.html

This link provides a good look at excerpts of the primary document of the 1800s Bradwell v. Illinois case. It is useful in allowing students to peruse the details of the case, particularly high school students preparing to write a research paper about Gender Discrimination and the Law, for example, or preparing to stage a debate. This site is a good resource when used in conjunction with the Oyez site.

Muller v. Oregon (1908) (Work Hours)
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/30.htm

This page is part of site managed by the U.S. State Department. It contains a short background summary of the case and the significance of the decision. It also includes an edited version of Justice Brewer's opinion (approximately one page). The summary would be appropriate for middle and high school readers. The language in the decision is challenging but thoughtfully edited.

Muller v. Oregon (1908) (work hours)
http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/ww/events_muller.html

This site, part of Harvard University's Open Collections Program: Working Women 1870-1930, provides a brief analysis of the significance of Muller v. Oregon and its connection to the Progressive movement (more appropriate for grades 11-12). It also contains links to four primary sources from the Harvard Library's collection. These full-length books and reports on women and working conditions at the turn of the century are fully available on-line. A link to the decision in the case is also available. It is a great tool for research or a lesson on working with primary documents.

Kolstad v. American Dental Association (1999) (promotion)
http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/477/

This OYEZ sited case offers an abstract of the Kolstad v. American Dental Association (ADA). Carole Kolstad sued the ADA when it promoted a man instead of her. The Supreme Court, in a split decision, ruled in favor of granting her punitive damages. Like the previous case, this OYEZ site has all the same bells and whistles.