Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, color, religion ancestry, national origin, sex, including marital status, age, disability, veteran status or genetic testing and screening information. University policy also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
A legal term describing certain groups, such as women, older and disabled individuals, Vietnam-era veterans and minorities.
Groups of people protected from discrimination under government regulations and laws. The specific groups are defined as women, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians/Pacific Islanders or American Indians/Alaskan Natives, people over 40, the disabled as defined under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and disabled veterans and Vietnam-era veterans as defined under the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act.
a group of people who share common characteristics and are protected from discrimination and harassment
a group to which one belongs as identified in the Federal Civil Rights Act
Groups of people that laws specifically protect from discrimination. It includes discrimination because of their age, sex, race, national origin, disability, creed, or religion. Some states and cities protect people against other types of discrimination, such as sexual orientation discrimination.
a group named in a law as protected from discrimination. Some protected classes include gender, race, age, and religion. Return to course
Anti-discrimination laws only regard unequal or unfair treatment as unlawful discrimination when the victim is a member of a defined group known as a protected class. The first civil rights laws protected only race and color. As the principle of discrimination evolved over the years more laws were passed and more groups were added. Federal protected classes now include race, color, national origin, religion, sex (or gender), age (over 40), and disability. State law (HEPA) further protects ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, as well as arrest and court record (in most cases).
Any group of people designated as such by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in consideration of federal and state civil rights legislation. Currently includes ethnic minorities, women, religious groups, the handicapped and others.
Classes or groups of people protected by the Federal and State Equal Opportunity Laws. Examples of these classes and groups are Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, American Indians, women of all races, persons with disabilities, disabled and Vietnam-era veterans and people who are age 40 and above, a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation.
refers to group(s) with respect to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, veteran status, or the presence of any sensory or physical disability.
Those individuals who fall within a group identified for protection under equal employment laws and regulations.
Protected class is a term used in United States anti-discrimination law. The term describes groups of people who are protected from discrimination and harassment.
