gender discrimination

Who isn't "gay" in prison?

Virginia's largest women's prison rounded up inmates who had loose-fitting clothes, short hair or otherwise masculine looks and placed them in a separate cell block.

That's according to prisoners and corrections officers who talked to The Associated Press about the practice.

They say dozens were moved in an attempt to split up relationships and curb illegal sexual activity at the 1,200-inmate Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Troy. Some straight women were sent to the wing strictly because of their appearance.

Civil rights advocates called the moves unconstitutional punishment for "looking gay."

Shenoa Vild hates to wear makeup. Face goop is simply not for her. She happens to think she has a naturally healthy, vibrant complexion. Looking at this picture, I have to agree.

But Vild, a waitress, says her former boss had an entirely different opinion. He wanted Vild to wear makeup. She wouldn't. So, she says, she got canned. Vild had worked at Trophy's in Mission Valley for five years without wearing makeup. Apparently, for all that time, it didn't matter.

But the restaurant was sold earlier this year, and she says the new management wanted the women to doll up. Vild says she got the ax in late April when she wouldn't. Employers have the right to do this. A few years ago, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it is not discrimination for employers to make women wear makeup. (Who are these judges? Maybelline stockholders?)

A man sued the New Orleans Police Department, claiming he was harassed by an officer who threatened to arrest him for wearing a black pinstriped skirt to municipal court. Jeremy Don Kerr is asking for $1 in damages, a ruling that his rights were violated, and an order against barring access to public facilities because of gender stereotyping.

The department hasn't been served with the lawsuit and hasn't answered the claim in court.Kerr filed the civil rights lawsuit last month. He said he finds skirts more comfortable than pants, and wears them with button-down oxfords or T-shirts.

And he said women love it.

Reading this truthout piece on how women have shaped American law has me itching to dust off my JD and get into one of those black robes.  By the time I got to law school, women did make up 47% of the class; however, your professors were male, in their 70's, and reminded us that when they went to school the 3 token women sat together in the front row.  I'll never forget Professor Crea.  My standard school uniform was overalls, a lace tank top, and black converse sneakers.  He would beg me to wear a skirt incredulous that "such a beautiful woman wouldn't show her legs".

And now we may have one more woman on the Supreme Court.  Time to reshape some American law ladies:

In May 1972, while driving home, California secretary Sally Armendariz's car was rear-ended by another car. Armendariz had never taken a sick day in her ten years on the job, and was proud of her record. She went right back to work the day after her accident. However, after a few hours, she began to feel sick, and her doctor advised her to go home. Armendariz was four months pregnant with her second child - no sense in taking chances. That night, she began to feel labor pains. She and her husband were rushed to the hospital. Come morning, Armendariz had miscarried.