Pregnancy Discrimination
History was made in 1978 when the Pregnancy Discrimination Act was passed. This law prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy and childbirth in employment, including hiring, firing, and promotions. It also includes perceived bias and hostile behaviors. This law was created after the Supreme Court's decision in General Electric Company v. Gilbert where the Court decided that pregnancy discrimination was a form of sex discrimination under the Civil Rights Act.
1 in 5 expecting mothers have experienced pregnancy discrimination, while 1 in 4 have contemplated quitting their jobs due to fear of discrimination and a lack of accommodations. The Journal of Applied Psychology published a study looking into pregnancy discrimination. This study shows us that pregnancy discrimination has a negative impact on the health of both the mother and the newborn. The symptoms included postpartum depression for mothers and lower birth weights, lower gestational ages, and increased doctor visits for the babies.
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