An important part of women’s history is pregnancy discrimination. It wasn’t until the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that employers were barred from firing women or refusing to hire them because they were pregnant.
Of course, we know pregnancy discrimination still happens, albeit subtly. Some examples have included: jobs changing while women are on maternity leave, pregnant women being the first to go in company layoffs, and hiring managers ask probing and illegal questions to find out if prospective hires might need any extended time off in the near future.
Read more: A Quick Guide to Pregnancy, Leave & Short-Term Disability
Pregnancy discrimination is often so under-the-radar that cases are not only hard to prove legally, but they’re also hard for even coworkers to believe. These tweets illustrate just how real pregnancy discrimination was and is in America’s workplaces. (Plus one from abroad—for perspective.)
Read more: 32% of Mothers Have Experienced Workplace Discrimination Because of Parental Status
Pregnancy discrimination is rarely direct. When I was four months into a new job, got pregnant with no. 2 bebe. When returned to work, one editor delivered terrible review with no concrete data except "not giving 100 percent." Was filled with doubt and lost confidence.
— CeciliaKang (@ceciliakang) October 9, 2019
I was asked by a prospective employer if I was planning to get pregnant. In 2019. At a very reputable organization. P.S: Anyone who tells you pregnancy discrimination in the workplace doesn’t exist is lying.
— Huma Imtiaz (@HumaImtiaz) October 8, 2019
My mother had to threaten to sue to keep her job when she was pregnant with me. Her colleagues made a big stink about her asking for maternity leave a second time (I was her second kid).That was 1989. Things haven’t improved much for pregnancy discrimination since.
— Moira Donegan (@MoiraDonegan) October 7, 2019
I was pregnant in 1966. I was denied my law school scholarships and fired from my job as a law clerk. I hocked my wedding rings for $50 and got a National Student Defense Loan from Drake's financial aid officer Walter Fleurey. He saved my career. Pregnancy was a firing offense.
— Roxanne Conlin (@RoxanneConlin) October 8, 2019
I was fired for being pregnant. I started having contractions at the end of double shifts at the restaurant and requested single shifts only (“reasonable accommodation”) and was let go instead. This is perfectly legal for companies with less than 15 employees.
— Rachel Belloma (@arbybeast) October 9, 2019
20 Yrs ago, fellow employee told me she was pregnant. So excited b/c they had a hard time conceiving. She went to tell the boss, came down upset that he didn’t take it well. 20 min later he fired her. I quit 2 wks later, had no respect for him.
— fed up (@sheldonlarue) October 9, 2019
ALSO! It's not *just* getting fired. Work places often just become so hostile to pregnant and working mothers that it is no longer tenable to work there.
— Sophia Benoit (@1followernodad) October 8, 2019
I've seen pregnancy or fear of pregnancy discrimination play out at every single, mostly progressive, media org that I've worked for.
— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) October 8, 2019
All three of my daughters I 'hid' my pregnancy until after 20 weeks. Clothing, discussions, midwife appointment. No word to my boss or my team. Twice I showed up to new positions pregnant and wanted to make sure I made it through the 90 days. Each time I reported to women.
— NatalieSpring (@DevelopmentNat) October 8, 2019
If we're going to have a moment about whether pregnancy discrimination is a thing can we also mention that finding a job while pregnant is such a non-starter that most people advise you not to try? 1/
— Erika (@ecstarr04) October 8, 2019
The lack of knowledge of widespread, in most cases LEGAL pregnancy discrimination just a generation ago is amazing. My mom was a flight attendant and throughout my childhood her coworkers called me the "first legal baby" at SFO. Because I was. In 1974. Before that pregnant=fired.
— BMac (@BelinMac) October 8, 2019
Do people think pregnancy discrimination does not happen TO THIS DAY?
— Michelle Jones (@Michelle_RJones) October 8, 2019
In 2008 I was laid off while on maternity leave from my corporate-owned media job.
Disturbing but unsurprising piece on pregnancy discrimination in workplace. Hits a cord for many reasons. As far as I can tell, all of the women featured in the story are Black. Seems right given that women of color disproportionately work physically strenuous low wage jobs 1/n https://t.co/1fNwXNidHy
— Jamila Michener (@povertyscholar) October 22, 2018
Having been the victim of pregnancy discrimination in 2011 (I was in line to get training for new position but was skipped over by a mgr who once used the term “sloppy seconds” in my presence—this at a very “progressive” company) & was fired in 2007 bc my kid was sick “too much”
— 💀 Alby Eyelash: I’m The Bad Ghoul 💀 (@albyselkie) October 8, 2019
Let's be clear: Throughout the 1960s and early '70s, women were denied jobs, fired from jobs, or pushed out of jobs, for having kids—or even just getting married. And employers didn't even try to hide it. This is a historical fact. There was even a term for it. #MotherhoodPenaltypic.twitter.com/BrCp2QRux2
— Keith O'Brien (@KeithOB) October 10, 2019
My wife got fired for having a kid. Good times.
— Tim Shelburn (@tshelburn) October 8, 2019
Never got fired for being pregnant, but my PhD program did try to cut off my funding just after I gave birth at the end of my coursework. I raised hell (birth of a brand) & they agreed to extend it for 1 year. Which means I had ONE YEAR to finish two comps & write a dissertation
— Lacy M. Johnson (@lacymjohnson) October 8, 2019
I got fired for being pregnant - just 8 years ago. I talked to several attorneys who all said it was a pretty clear case, but I had to be ready to go through a really tough fight. I wasn’t, so I didn’t. I’m still mad at myself about that.
— michelle (@shellymatic) October 8, 2019
I was fired from GameStop for being pregnant in 2002. https://t.co/Sy6X22lXt1
— Elizabeth Sampat (@twoscooters) October 8, 2019
I was fired in 1992 for simply being pregnant. The company president said he didn't want a pregnant broad in his front office. #BelieveWomen
— Sonja Hell-No-Kitty (@BlueRainfyre) October 13, 2017
Plus, one from abroad:
As a married woman without children, Bella Wang was asked to sign a “special agreement” promising not to get pregnant for 2 years. If she broke it, she could be fired without compensation. Such agreements are illegal but increasingly common in China. https://t.co/NAnvYO6Rpy
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) July 17, 2019
