Jobs report: The slow, uneven progress of equal opportunity

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:57:00 +0000

How far have we come since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed job discrimination on the basis of race and sex? Not nearly far enough, says a new book analyzing changing workplaces from 1964 to 2005.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission opened its private-sector employer reports to sociologists Kevin Stainback and Donald Tomaskovic-Devey, who used the data in their book “Documenting Desegregation," a sweeping look at the successes -- and considerable failures -- of the landmark legislation.

The authors found that while the Civil Rights Act of 1964 began to disrupt a system of obstacles for both women and African-Americans, it didn't offer practical ways to renegotiate institutional practices in the workplace. Instead, it relied (and continues to rely) heavily on lawsuits based on especially egregious cases of discrimination. As a result, progress has been uneven and often stalled altogether.

As reported by economics professor Nancy Folbre for the New York Times:

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Jobs report: The slow, uneven progress of equal opportunity