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=                          Protected group                           =
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                            Introduction
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A protected group or protected class is a group of people qualified
for special protection by a law, policy, or similar authority. In the
United States, the term is frequently used in connection with
employees and employment.

Where discrimination on the basis of protected group status is
concerned, a single act of discrimination may be based on membership
in more than one protected group. For example, discrimination based on
antisemitism may relate to religion, national origin, or both;
discrimination against a pregnant woman might be based on sex, marital
status, or both.


                           United States
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U.S. federal law protects individuals from discrimination or
harassment based on the following nine protected classes: sex, race,
age, disability, color, creed, national origin, religion, or genetic
information (added in 2008). Many state laws also give certain
protected groups special protection against harassment and
discrimination, as do many employer policies. Although it is not
required by federal law, employer policies may also protect employees
from harassment or discrimination based on marital status or sexual
orientation.  The following characteristics are "protected" by United
States federal anti-discrimination law:

* Race - Civil Rights Act of 1964
* Religion - Civil Rights Act of 1964
* National origin - Civil Rights Act of 1964
* Age (40 and over) - Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
* Sex - Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Civil Rights Act of 1964
** The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission interprets 'sex' to
include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
* Pregnancy - Pregnancy Discrimination Act
* Familial status - Civil Rights Act of 1968 Title VIII:  Prohibits
discrimination for having children, with an exception for senior
housing.  Also prohibits making a preference for those with children.
* Disability status - Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990
* Veteran status - Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act
of 1974 and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
* Genetic information - Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

Individual states can and do create other classes for protection under
state law.

Presidents have also issued executive orders which prohibit
consideration of particular attributes in employment decisions of the
United States government and its contractors. These have included
Executive Order 11246 (1965), Executive Order 11478 (1969), Executive
Order 13087 (1998), Executive Order 13279 (2003), and Executive Order
13672 (2014).


                              See also
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* Civil Rights Act of 1866
* Affirmative action
* Fair Housing Act
* Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
* Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
* Suspect classification


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