Group: Katie Harlow, Mike DeSantis, Caitlin Loyd, Zach Madden Dothard V. Rawlinson 1977 Group: Katie Harlow, Mike DeSantis, Caitlin Loyd, Zach Madden

Overview Diane Rawlinson wanted to be an Alabama prison guard Sex: Female Age: 22 Height: 5’ 3” Weight: 115 lbs Education: University of Alabama: Degree in Correctional psychology

Alabama Law 1977 Alabama Prison Guard Requirements Minimum height: 5’ 2” Minimum weight: 120 lbs Diane was allowed to work as a counselor, not a guard

Disparate Impact theory of Title VII Filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging sex discrimination. Also known as disparate impact theory of title VII Disparate Impact: practices in employment, housing, and other areas are discriminatory if they have a disproportionate adverse impact on persons along the lines of a protected trait Title VII: Prohibits discrimination by employers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

After Complaint Alabama passed regulation requiring guards be the same sex as the inmates 4 all male prisons and 1 all female prison Brenda Meith was a co plantiff Same argument for state trooper requirements

Court Ruling In favor of Rawlinson Height and weight requirements had no relationship to the job requirements Excluded 41.13% of the female population for prisons Excluded 1% of the male population for prisons Height requirement excludes 33% of women from prison guards and state troopers Weight requirement excludes 22% of women from prison guards and state troopers

Court Ruling Upheld gender ruling Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications (BFOQ): Employers are allowed to consider a few qualifications when making employment decisions when that qualification is reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the business 20% of male prisoners are sex offenders are scattered throughout system. Having female guards in contact with these prisoners is a security threat because of gender

Aftermath Opened many doors for women Allowed women to be hired in traditionally men dominated law enforcement jobs Laws have changed and large growth 2001: women made up 24.5% of correctional workforce in male custodial facilities 2007: women made up 40% of all adult correctional staff

Work Cited http://legacysplc.wwwsplcenter.org/legal/docket/files.jsp?c drID=7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dothard_v._Rawlinson http://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent. cgi?article=1257&context=facsch_lawrev http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bona_fide_occupational_qua lifications