When employer-provided health insurance covers contraception or a workplace provides accommodations for breastfeeding, is that sex equality, special benefits for women, or something else?
Jennifer S. Hendricks, professor of law and co-director of the Juvenile and Family Law Program, will address these questions and more in the 43rd Annual Austin W. Scott, Jr., Lecture, "Essentially a Mother", on Tuesday, November 14, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in Wittemyer Courtroom.
Historically, U.S. courts would have called these sorts of benefits "special rights", not required—and perhaps even suspect— under the Equal Protection Clause and other legal guarantors of equality. In recent years, however, public debates, and even court decisions, have shifted toward treating "women's unique biology" as something that must be accommodated in order to attain sex equality. Is this progress, or does it stereotype women as mothers and hinder their advancement? In her talk, Professor Hendricks will discuss these questions and more, and provide insight on how the law and feminist legal theory have struggled to reconcile biological sex differences with principles of equality.
Please register to attend. A reception will follow for registered guests. CLE credit has been requested.
Professor Hendricks teaches Family Law, Feminist Legal Theory, Civil Procedure, and Constitutional Law & Theory. Her research interests include sex equality and sex differences in parental rights, constitutional family law, and federal-state relations.