Final answer:
The U.S. Supreme Court case that found the practice of hiring a male with preschool-aged children over a woman with preschool-aged children to be in violation of Title VII is Griggs v. Duke Power Co. Option b) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Griggs v. Duke Power Co., a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case from 1971, fundamentally altered the landscape of employment discrimination law, specifically addressing discriminatory practices based on gender and familial status under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. This pivotal legal decision deemed the act of favoring the hiring of a male candidate with preschool-aged children over a similarly qualified woman with preschool-aged children as a violation of Title VII.
In its ruling, the Court established a precedent that extended beyond gender considerations, rendering it impermissible to incorporate employment criteria, such as educational requirements, that disproportionately affected one gender or race over another unless these requirements were directly linked to job performance. The decision highlighted the necessity of dismantling arbitrary barriers that perpetuated systemic discrimination and underscored the overarching principle of equal opportunity in the workplace.
Griggs v. Duke Power Co. played a critical role in shaping the legal landscape, reinforcing the prohibition of practices that perpetuate discrimination on the basis of gender or familial status. This case not only served as a cornerstone for subsequent anti-discrimination legislation but also marked a significant stride toward fostering inclusive workplaces and dismantling systemic biases in hiring practices.