Protected classes are groups that cannot legally face discrimination. In the US, federal classes include race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, and veteran status. Legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects these classes. Some classes, such as sexual orientation, are not federally recognized. Protected classes aim to make life fairer, but some argue they interfere with personal freedoms.
A protected class can be defined as a group that shares some similar characteristics that cannot legally face some forms of discrimination. This term is used extensively in US law to define and refer to people who may be harmed. At the federal level, color, race, national origin, and religion are some of the classes. The United States also considers disability, age, and gender to be protected. In addition, veterans may not face some forms of discrimination, and employers or health insurers may not discriminate against a person’s genetic information.
There are many key pieces of legislation that define protected class status. In the United States, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensured that protected classes of race, color, and religion, to name a few, had equal access to the vote and equal access to public buildings and lands. He is best known for outlawing discrimination in the workforce and initiating the desegregation of schools in the South. Other basic US laws are The Americans with Disabilities Act, The Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and The Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act. Each of these and many other laws define a protected class or determine what protections that class possesses.
No member of a protected class is always immune from discrimination. There will always be prejudices. Laws that speak of protection typically cover things like equal access to transportation, public buildings, housing, and voting. They also affect education, employment and public services. In areas defined by legislation, a member of a protected class should not be treated differently from anyone else.
The actual classes can be very different, as mentioned earlier. Some of them support civil rights such as the freedom to practice religion. Others are more interested in biases on the basis of a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, or age. Disability and veteran status are also vital. People can belong to more than one class.
Some protected classes are not federally recognized. The US government does not recognize sexual orientation or transgender status as grounds for protection, although about 10% of states do. Many regional laws also protect the family status, especially as regards the right to housing for couples with children.
Creating a protected class and defining its rights is a way of trying to make some aspects of life fairer. It is an extension of early American ideals that embrace freedom. Fully defined laws concretely protect certain rights and seek to address ongoing discrimination. However, not all people are fans of these laws, believing that they interfere with personal freedoms. Conversely, others argue that stronger and more inclusive legislation should be enacted.
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