Thursday, January 22, 2009

Supreme Court ruling benefits sexually harassed students  

0 comments
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that students who are victims of sexual harassment can sue under both Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. This case was brought to the Court when a kindergartner, Jacqueline Fitzgerald, was sexually harassed on her school bus by a classmate. The school refused to put a monitor on the bus and tried to move Jacqueline, not the harasser, to a new bus.

In a statement regarding the ruling, co-president of the National Women's Law Center Marcia Greenberger said:

"The Supreme Court appropriately recognized that when Congress passed Title IX it intended to create a new statutory remedy that would supplement, not replace, Constitutional and other legal protections against sex discrimination. Effective enforcement of both Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution remains essential if sex discrimination in educational institutions is to be eliminated."

Undoubtedly an important victory for students everywhere. Title IX can be used for wonderful things, but it's not enough to simply pass a law; it's up to its supporters to ensure that the law is utilized. If the happy day comes when the Equal Rights Amendment is passed, feminists organizations are going to have to do everything they can to uphold it.

What next?

You can also bookmark this post using your favorite bookmarking service:

Related Posts by Categories