Indirect Discrimination under Title VII: Expanding Male Standing to Sue for Injuries Received as a Result of Employer Discrimination Against Females

Historically, both men and women have had the right to seek redress under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for injuries they have received as a result of sex discrimination. In recent years, the federal circuits have split on whether to give men standing in one particular category of such cases: employment discrimination cases where, although both men and women have been injured, the discrimination has been targeted only at women. The author analyzes the recent male standing cases in the context of basic standing principles and their past application to other types of Title VII plaintiffs. The author concludes that a restrictive reading of standing in these cases is inconsistent with traditional standing principles and with Title VII\u27s stated prupose. Throughout the Article, the author offers suggestions to plaintiffs\u27 attorneys who must fight the standing battle in sex discrimination cases