In the United States, gender discrimination at work is illegal, but it still remains a consistent problem throughout the workplace. With few exceptions, employers cannot discriminate against employees based on their sex/gender. Most commonly, unlawful employment discrimination is manifested as unequal pay, discriminatory job standards, or denying a promotion. For example, it is illegal for an employer to pay women higher than men simply because of the gender difference. Sexual harassment is also considered unlawful discrimination, including making sexual bribes or inappropriate sexual comments.

Under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employees are protected from discriminatory actions, and organizations that discriminate may be subjected to legal penalty. Some practices, of course, are necessary discrimination and are legal, such as having separate bathrooms based on gender or only hiring a female to work in a women's dressing room. If you are discriminated against because of your sex, your first action should be to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).