Centering and Decentering Women: U.S. Supreme Court Discrimination Opinions and a Discursive Struggle over Women’s Status

Figures & data

Table 1. Workplace and Education Discrimination Cases Involving Female Plaintiffs by Case and Opinion Type, 1965–2020^a

Case Type	Opinion Favors	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s
barriers	female plaintiff	Cannon (1979)^b	Hishon (1984)^b Anderson (1985)^b Price Waterhouse (1989)	Virginia (1996)	Desert Palace (2003)^b
	opponents	Dothard (1977) Feeney (1979)
wages & benefits	female plaintiff	Corning (1974) Manhart (1978)	Gunther (1981)
	opponents	Evans (1977)^c	Ford (1982) Lorance (1989)		Ledbetter (2009)	Wal-Mart (2011)
pregnancy	female plaintiff	LaFleur (1974)^b Satty (1977)^b	Guerra (1987)	Johnson Controls (1991)		Young (2015)
	opponents	Geduldig (1974) Gilbert (1976)	Wimberly (1987)		AT&T (2009)^c

^aAll legal cases are cited in the Appendix. Sexual harassment cases are excluded (see footnote 2).

^bDesignates opinions authored by conservative justices in favor of plaintiffs (that is, the original plaintiff won the case).

^cDesignates opinions authored by liberal justices in favor of opponents (that is, opponent won the case).

Figure 1. Distinct Language Characterizing “Women” in Pro-Original-Plaintiff vs. Pro-Opponent Barriers Opinions

Figure 2. Distinct Language Characterizing “Women” in Pro-Original-Plaintiff vs. Pro-Opponent Wages- and Benefits Opinions

Figure 3. Distinct Language Characterizing “Women” in Pro-Original-Plaintiff vs. Pro-Opponent Pregnancy Opinions