Do You Want to Be an Attorney or a Mother? Arguing for a Feminist Solution to the Problem of Double Binds in Employment and Family Responsibilities Discrimination

Heather Bennett Stanford, American University, Washington College of Law

Abstract

This article is a research paper analyzing and proffering solutions to family responsibilities discrimination in the workplace. The article centers around a case filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. This case was filed by a female partner at the law firm Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote claiming discrimination based on family responsibilities. I chose this topic because I feel that it is an increasingly important and emerging area of employment discrimination law. This article introduces the background of the case and analyzes possible outcomes in light of caselaw involving employment discrimination in various contexts. Finally, the article discusses the possible implications of the case on this area of employment discrimination law and argues for possible feminist theory solutions to family responsibilities discrimination in the workplace.