Parental Status Employment Discrimination: A Wrong in Need of a Right?

38 Pages Posted: 30 Jan 2008

See all articles by Peggie R. Smith

Peggie R. Smith

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law

Abstract

The Article examines existing and proposed efforts to help workers with childcare obligations balance the demands of work and family by treating parental status as a protected category - similar to race and sex - in equal employment opportunity statutes. The Article argues that while a parental-based approach to employment discrimination stands to promote a gender-neutral understanding of childcare, and in the process advance the interests of all workers, men and women, the approach ultimately lacks the capacity to effect substantive change in the situation of working parents.

Keywords: parental discrimination, child care, employment, parenthood, work-family, race discrimination

JEL Classification: J12, J13, J71, J78

Suggested Citation

Smith, Peggie R., Parental Status Employment Discrimination: A Wrong in Need of a Right?. University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, Vol. 35, 2002, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1087684

Peggie R. Smith (Contact Author)

Washington University in St. Louis - School of Law ( email )

Campus Box 1120
St. Louis, MO 63130
United States

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