Information and the Persistence of the Gender Wage Gap: Early Evidence from California’s Salary History Ban

Click below to read a research paper analyzing the effects of California’s salary history ban on the gender wage gap.

Limiting NDAs that Silence Workers

Nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) can silence workers who have been the victims of harassment and abuse. Policymakers should prioritize limiting NDAs and contracts that silence workers.

Housing Discrimination, Harassment, and Your Rights (2020)

CWLC recorded a webinar on April 28th that outlines these changes and how they impact women and families. Click below to listen. If you believe you have been treated unfairly because of your gender, please call us to discuss your situation.

Using Title IX as a Legal Tool to Address Campus Sexual Assault: A Brief Primer (2020)

Join CWLC’s Staff Attorney, Mariah Lindsay, for this training on Title IX as it relates to campus sexual assault. It provides context and background on the prevalence and impact of campus sexual assault, the evolving role of Title IX on this issue, the Trump administration’s changes to Title IX and the current status of these
Read more…

2019 Amicus Brief Summary

Training – CA’s Fair Play Act and Gender Discrimination in Youth Sports (2019)

Join CWLC’s Senior Staff Attorney, Amy Poyer, as she discusses California’s Fair Play Act and its impact on gender discrimination in youth sports. Click below to view the webinar training. One hour of MCLE credit is available for this training.

Training – Pregnancy and Lactation Accommodations in Los Angeles County School Districts (2019)

In this webinar, we discuss the rights of parenting employees and students in California’s schools, including an overview of pregnancy leave rights and legally required accommodations for lactation. We discuss CWLC’s 2019 “ABC’s of Breastfeeding” Report Card including improvements that have been made in lactation accommodation policies for students and employees for the 81 school
Read more…

“ABC’s of Breastfeeding” Report Card (2019)

In February 2019, the California Women’s Law Center released an updated “ABC’s of Breastfeeding” report card for Los Angeles County school districts. This report card updates our 2016 publication of the ABC’s of Breastfeeding in Los Angeles County which was done in partnership with BreastfeedLA and the ACLU of Southern California. In 2015, California passed
Read more…

Support Students and Take Action Against Proposed Title IX Changes! (2019)

The rights and safety of women in the United States continue to be challenged. Over the last two years, the current administration has marginalized American women and girls on several fronts, and now Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has proposed new regulations that will strip away vital protections for survivors of sexual assault and harassment
Read more…

Webinar Training: “Creating A Level Playing Field for Girls: Title IX Athletics in Schools and Beyond” (2018)

CWLC’s Senior Staff Attorney Amy Poyer and Legal Aid At Work’s Senior Staff Attorney Kim Turner presented “Creating A Level Playing Field for Girls: Title IX Athletics in Schools and Beyond” on October 24, 2018. Girls who play sports in their youth earn higher grades, are more likely to graduate, go to college and experience
Read more…

Reproductive Rights: California vs. Trump (2018)

The rights of women in the United States are under attack. Over the last two years, the current administration has repeatedly taken aim at women’s reproductive rights and health care options, including allowing employers to refuse to provide birth control for their employees, cutting funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs, and defunding global programs that
Read more…

Issue Brief: The state of women Veteran’ health in the United States and in California (2017)

U.S. VETS released a fact sheet in 2017 highlighting the state of women Veterans’ health in the United States and in California.                                                                       
Read more…

Webinar Training – “Title IX: Campus Sexual Assault and Harassment” (2018)

The California Women’s Law Center offered this training opportunity about campus sexual assault and harassment as it applies to Title IX, and in particular colleges in California. Presenter: Amy Poyer, CWLC Senior Staff Attorney *To use this training for self-study MCLE credit, please complete the evaluation form on our website and submit it to cwlc@cwlc.org in order
Read more…

“HIV Criminalization and Sex Work in California” (2018)

The California Women’s Law Center announces the release of “HIV Criminalization and Sex Work in California” which analyzed the application of many of our state’s criminal laws related to HIV. In collaboration with The Williams Institute and the California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center, CWLC was pleased to be able to participate in the creation of this report analyzing arrests
Read more…

Training – Teen Dating Violence (2017)

The California Women’s Law Center offered this training opportunity about the problem of teen dating violence, the prevention of it through legislation and what further steps should be taken to combat this violence.

Webinar Training – “A Level Playing Field” (2017)

The California Women’s Law Center and Legal Aid At Work offered this training opportunity about Title IX as it applies to athletics in schools, and in particular K-12 schools in California. Presenters: Amy Poyer, California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) Kim Turner, Legal Aid at Work *1 hour general CLE credit available. Please contact CWLC at cwlc@cwlc.org for
Read more…

Webinar Training- “The Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Students” (2017)

The California Women’s Law Center and BreastfeedLA offered this training opportunity about Title IX and California law as it applies to pregnant and parenting students. Presenters: Amy Poyer, California Women’s Law Center Arissa Palmer, BreastfeedLA *1 hour general CLE credit available. Please contact CWLC at cwlc@cwlc.org for more information.

Fact Sheet – Asking for Salary History Perpetuates Pay Discrimination from Job to Job (2017)

The National Women’s Law Center released a fact sheet in June 2017 highlighting how Asking for Salary History Perpetuates Pay Discrimination from Job to Job. 

Lactation 101: Lactation Accommodations in Los Angeles County Higher Education (2017)

Access to lactation accommodations is an issue at all levels of educational instruction.  Thus, Lactation 101 adds to our previous work at the K-12 level, broadening our coverage to 107 colleges, universities and institutes of higher learning in Los Angeles County. Of the 107 institutions evaluated, only 4 schools met four or more of the
Read more…

Training: “The Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Students Under Title IX and California Law” (2016)

This informational webinar reviewed the laws protecting pregnant and parenting students in California to enable practitioners to identify and remedy these harmful forms of discrimination, shared the results of the ABC’s of Breastfeeding Report Card grading lactation accommodations in K-12 schools in Los Angeles County, and discussed next steps in expanding the impact of the report card.

Gender Discrimination in Education – Athletics (2016)

This guide provides an overview on gender discrimination in education, and is focused specifically on athletics. It covers the facts about Title IX as it pertains to athletics and includes resources about how Title IX is applied to athletics, enforcement and compliance, including several cases and resources.

Of the States, By the States, For the States: Strategies and Tools for Gender Equality (2015)

Created through The Alliance, this resource document presents a compilation of the Alliance’s state advocacy strategies, models, and resources in two priority areas: advancing abortion policy and combatting religious refusals. This first edition chronicles tangible abortion and refusals advocacy efforts on the ground in our states with links to concrete advocacy tools, such as bills
Read more…

The Road Ahead: Gender Equality After Hobby Lobby (2015)

Created through The Alliance, this report focuses on the Supreme Court’s decision on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. It is intended to serve as a resource for state and national colleagues who recognize the struggle for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, full gender equality, and social justice itself can be won only through creative and concerted advocacy.

Female Veteran’s Fair Housing Case Against Housing Facility (2016)

The California Women’s Law Center, along with co-counsel, represented a female veteran who brought several claims against the owners and managers of a facility developed to provide housing for disabled homeless veterans. Based on the sexual assault and harassment that she alleged occurred at the facility, the plaintiff brought two Fair Housing Act claims for a hostile living environment as
Read more…

Training – Title IX – Gender Equality in School Athletics (2016)

The California Women’s Law Center and the Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center’s Fair Play for Girls in Sports Project offered this training opportunity about Title IX as it applies to athletics in schools, and in particular K-12 schools in California.

Aging, Women, and Poverty in California: We Must Do More (2016)

On June 3, 2016, the California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) partnered with the California Commission on Aging and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls to co-host the “Aging, Women, and Poverty in California” forum. This policy paper summarizes the key issues facing poor older women in California as well as serves
Read more…

ABCs of Breastfeeding Report Card (2015 and 2016)

In 2015, the ACLU of Southern California, BreastfeedLA (The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles) and CWLC released a report card on the state of lactation accommodations for students and employees in Los Angeles County schools. The 2015 report found the average grade across all schools was a “D.” A year later, this same
Read more…

Title IX Victory in the Ninth Circuit on Sweetwater (2014)

CWLC, with our partners at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, continue to monitor the Title IX compliance progress at Castle Park High School in the Sweetwater School District located in Chula Vista, California. In 2014, the Ninth Circuit in Ollier v. Sweetwater Union High School District, 768 F.3d
Read more…

Just Play Now

CWLC has a dedicated website in order to provide information and tools to students, parents and coaches to ensure that their high school is providing fair athletic opportunities to girls. The site includes case studies, videos, and a toolkit with templates.

California Women Veterans Legal Collaborative (2016)

The California Women Veterans Legal Collaborative is an active partnership between the California Women’s Law Center and the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center to provide coordinated, statewide legal assistance to female veterans who were victims of sexual assault or violence while serving in the military (termed Military Sexual Trauma or MST).  Women veterans with a
Read more…

Title IX Victory in the Ninth Circuit on Sweetwater (2014)

CWLC, with our partners at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, continue to monitor the Title IX compliance progress at Castle Park High School in the Sweetwater School District located in Chula Vista, California. In 2014, the Ninth Circuit in Ollier v. Sweetwater Union High School District, 768 F.3d
Read more…

CWLC Women Veterans Housing Policy Brief (2015)

This CWLC policy brief examines the lack of safe and supportive housing for women veterans, because current supportive housing facilities specifically targeted for homeless veterans fails to accommodate the needs of women veterans and their families, particularly those with MST- (Military Sexual Trauma) related disabilities.

Opening Doors & Opportunities for Girls (2014)

A Title IX Compliance Checklist: Top 14 Questions to Ask and Act On The California Title IX Coalition invites you to join us in opening doors and opportunities for girls and young women in your community. You can do this by using the enclosed Title IX Check List to assess your local high school’s compliance
Read more…

Pregnant Students and Confidential Medical Services Policy Brief (2013)

This CWLC policy brief outlines the rights of pregnant teens in California regarding their ability to consent to all medical care related to their pregnancy. This right extends to other limited, specified medical conditions – usually those that involve sexual activity and other sensitive and personal matters.

Educational Rights of Pregnant & Parenting Teens: Title IX & CA State Law Requirements (2012)

This CWLC policy brief explores Title IX, specifically the explicit protections for pregnant and parenting students. Coupled with state law protections that both mirror and expand on Title IX, California provides pregnant teens with important legal tools to combat discrimination and harassment in schools

Time Out – Does your School Play Fair? (2006)

CWLC developed this practical guide to inform women and young girls of their rights under Title IX, and to help them fairly assess whether their school or university is in compliance.

Eliminating Health Barriers for Women Veterans (2014)

The Eliminating Health Barriers Project was a collaborative effort between CWLC and numerous veteran services organizations across California. The focus of the project was to work directly with women veterans and other key informants to develop workable, gender-appropriate, and responsive solutions to address current obstacles to accessing health care services. The project involved low-income women
Read more…

Girls Participation in Sports: An Important Tool in Teen Pregnancy Prevention (2002)

One of the proven benefits of sports activity that has too often been overlooked is the relationship between participation in sports and teen pregnancy prevention. This CWLC policy brief highlights the relationship between these two issues and the barriers that have prevented sports from being utilized as an important tool in teen pregnancy prevention.

The Civil Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Teens in California Schools (2002)

This CWLC policy brief was created to educate the public about the civil rights of pregnant and parenting teens and to encourage schools to adopt policies that protect teens’ rights.

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence in Schools: What Title IX Requires (2011)

This document is intended to provide a summary of the Office for Civil Rights “Dear Colleague” letter issued on April 4, 2011, which provided special Title IX guidance on sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools.