Sexual Harassment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Message to the People of California The Women's Rights Handbook has been prepared by the Office of the Attorney General as a summary of women's rights in important areas such as employment, economic independence, education, housing, health care, domestic relations, violent crimes and child care. It also provides other valuable information related to those rights. There is, for example, a section on crimes of violence against women and children, and where victims can get help. In recent years, largely as a result of hard work by countless individuals and organizations concerned with women's rights, courts and legislatures have taken many steps to strengthen guarantees of equal opportunity for women in our society. By the mid-1970s, the need was apparent for a concise reference work in this rapidly changing field. Accordingly, the first Women's Rights Handbook was published by the Attorney General's Office in 1976-77. The booklet was so well received that it was expanded by supplement in 1980, and reissued in revised form in 1983, 1987, and 1990. The 1998 edition of the Women's Rights Handbook, like its predecessors, contains the most current information on new laws and services that benefit women. While women will find this book of special interest, much of the information concerns laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age and disability, as well as sex. Therefore, it will be useful to all persons concerned about fair and equal treatment in employment, economic transactions, housing, business establishments, and other areas. Although a number of topics in this handbook are the subject of intense political debate, it is not our purpose here to take a position on them. Rather, in presenting current federal and state laws, we believe this publication, provided as a public service, can be of assistance to all Californians. Acknowledgements This 1998 revision of the Women's Rights Handbook was prepared under the supervision of the California Attorney General's Public Rights Division, Civil Rights Enforcement Unit. Roderick E. Walston Chief Assistant Attorney General Public Rights Division Sue Ellen Wooldridge Special Assistant Attorney General Carole Ritts Kornblum Senior Assistant Attorney General Charitable Trusts/Civil Rights Enforcement Unit Louis Verdugo, Jr. Supervising Deputy Attorney General Civil Rights Enforcement Editing Kathleen W. Mikkelson Patricia Barbosa Deputy Attorneys General Editing and Legal Writing Linda Giese Associate Governmental Program Analyst Administrative Assistant to Chief Assistant Attorney General, Public Rights Division, Office of the California Attorney General Editing Corazon Fragoso Imelda Salvador Janice Williams Production Assistants David King Production Coordinator Jan Mistchenko Cover Design The Attorney General thanks and acknowledges the assistance provided by the following volunteer reviewers and consultants: Vicki Atwood, Legislative Coordinator, Commission on the Status of Women Susan Breall, Esq., Chief of Criminal Division, San Francisco District Attorney's Office Carol Coffey, Staff Services Manager, Criminal Law Division, Office of the California Attorney General John Ichinaga, Deputy Attorney General, Health Education and Welfare Section, Office of the California Attorney General Ann Noel, Staff Counsel, Fair Employment and Housing Commission Pam Pierson, Esq., Certified Family Law Practitioner Prudence Poppink, Staff Counsel, Fair Employment and Housing Commission Beth Rosen-Prinz, Housing Regional Administrator, Department of Fair Employment and Housing Karmi Speece, Executive Director, Commission on the Status of Women Helene Tenette, Victim Witness Coordinator, Office of the United States Attorney, Eastern District of California The Attorney General also gratefully acknowledges the assistance of other attorneys, staff experts and volunteer consultants from many of the agencies and organizations listed in this book who helped assemble the information compiled in the Women's Rights Handbook. For additional copies, please contact the Attorney General's Public Inquiry Unit, P. O. Box 944255, Sacramento, California 94244-2550, telephone (916) 322-3360 or toll free (800) 952-5225. The line for the hearing-impaired is (916) 324-5564 or toll free (800) 952-5548. Outline Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ..................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE: EMPLOYMENT ............................................. 1 Organizations Covered ...................................................... 4 Hiring Practices ............................................................ 6 Lawful Discrimination in Employment ........................................... 9 Working Conditions and Benefits ............................................. 10 Legal Remedies ........................................................... 26 CHAPTER TWO: ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE .............................. 30 Credit .................................................................. 30 Business Establishments .................................................. 41 Contracts ................................................................ 43 Insurance ................................................................ 47 Public Assistance .......................................................... 54 CHAPTER THREE: EDUCATION .............................................. 67 Admissions and School Programs ............................................ 67 Grievances and Enforcement ................................................ 76 CHAPTER FOUR: HOUSING ................................................. 78 State Housing Laws ....................................................... 78 Federal Housing Laws ...................................................... 83 Legal Rights and Remedies ................................................. 85 CHAPTER FIVE: HEALTH CARE ............................................. 87 Birth Control ............................................................. 87 Rights Relating to Birth Control and Sterilization ................................. 90 Abortion ................................................................ 92 Pregnancy ............................................................... 96 STDs ................................................................... 98 Breast Cancer ............................................................ 102 Other Commonly Asked Health Questions of Concern to Women ................... 104 Long-Term Illness ........................................................ 106 CHAPTER SIX: DOMESTIC RELATIONS .................................. 109 Marriage ................................................................ 109 Ending Your Marriage ..................................................... 116 Other Commonly Asked Questions About Divorce ............................... 142 Parental Responsibility for Children .......................................... 150 i CHAPTER SEVEN: VIOLENT CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST WOMEN ........................................... 160 Rape and Other Forms of Sexual Assaults ..................................... 160 Domestic Violence ........................................................ 187 CHAPTER EIGHT: CHILD CARE ............................................. 220 Publicly-Subsidized Child Care and Other Related Services ............................................. 220 Indirect Subsidies for Child Care ............................................. 230 Private Child Care ........................................................ 231 Summary ............................................................... 239 CHAPTER NINE: DIRECTORY OF SERVICES AND INFORMATION ........................................... 242 General Legal Assistance .................................................. 242 General Information for Women and Referral Services ........................... 246 Organizations that Deal with Specific Issues .................................... 249 Other Helpful Numbers .................................................... 275 ii Detailed Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................. xi CHAPTER ONE: EMPLOYMENT ............................................. 1 Organizations Covered ............................................................. 4 Employers ................................................................ 4 Labor Organizations ......................................................... 4 Employment Agencies ....................................................... 5 Training Programs .......................................................... 5 Licensing .................................................................6 Hiring Practices ..................................................................6 Unlawful Discrimination in Hiring .............................................. 6 Looking for Work ........................................................... 6 Job Applications ........................................................... 7 Job Requirements .......................................................... 7 Dress Codes ............................................................... 9 Lawful Discrimination in Employment ................................................. 9 Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications .......................................... 9 Affirmative Action Plans ..................................................... 9 Veterans ................................................................. 10 Working Conditions