Sexist Behavior
Have you had enough of the offensive remarks about your gender in your workplace? Contact the experienced Attorneys at DeToffol & Gittleman. We are Workplace sex discrimination attorneys dedicated to protecting and zealously fighting for the protection of our clients rights by ensuring that our client is not subjected to or does not continued to be subjected to sexist words in the workplace.
Workplace sexism is discrimination based on a person’s gender. Stereotypes and cultural attitudes are some factors that influence sexism. Generally, both men and women are victims of sexism in the workplace. Sexism in the workplace is not usually obvious but very subtle and can come in forms of sly comments about the victim’s your gender or sexist jokes. Whichever way sexism is presented in the workplace, it is considered sexual harassment and is unlawful in both New York City and State, as well as federal laws.
When Is Sexism Considered Sexual Harassment?
If a sexist comment is made once, it probably isn’t substantial enough to constitute harassment unless the one-time occurrence was severe like being fired because you are a woman that may also warrant legal action. Also, if sexist conduct is pervasive, making your work environment hostile, it could be illegal. If you are afraid to go to work, your or you feel oppressed on the job, it probably constitutes a hostile work environment. You may feel forced to quit because the atmosphere is so offensive.
Identifying Sexist Behavior In The Workplace
Perpetrators of sexist behaviors usually claim to be oblivious of their actions or its consequences and the most common and reoccurring form of sexism in the work place is the “benevolent sexism.” This is the case when women in the workplace are complemented on stereotypically feminine behavior, protecting or keeping them from executing what is considered more “masculine” tasks, or unequivocally calling women “girls” while referring to groups of males as “men.”
Sex Discrimination In Workplaces That Isolates Employees From Employment Benefits May Include:
- Being denied a promotion due to your sex;
- Being denied employment because of your sex;
- Being told you cannot perform certain job functions due to your gender; or
- Being paid less money than members of the opposite sex performing the same job functions.
Other Examples Of Sexism In The Workplace Are:
- Jokes with sexual overtones that degrade members of a certain sex, whether implicitly or explicitly;
- Comments referring to women as not belonging in a certain field of work, or stating that they belong at home raising children… “Get back in the kitchen!” or “You are too pretty to worry about your career”;
- Describing female employees by their gender in addition to their job function, e.g. the “female manager,” or the “woman counselor;”
- Addressing females by terms that are not their name such as “sweetheart” “mamacita” “babe” “chica” or sexually derogatory terms such as “bitch.”
- Specific comments like “She must be on her period” or “You have a beautiful body.”
- Assuming that only members of the same gender can address each other, such as an employer telling one female worker to inform another female worker of the inappropriateness of her dress;
- General comments regarding women being unfit candidates for employment.
At DeToffol & Gittleman, we don’t let people get away with any form of harassment or unfair treatment in the workplace. If you have been the victim of sex discrimination or sexism in the workplace, call us now to speak to one of our attorneys for free. Call (212) 962-2220.
