Question

In Lewis v. Heartland Inns of America, a front desk worker was fired following complaints by one manager that her dress style was "more masculine," and that she had "an Ellen DeGeneres kind of look." If she sues, the court will most likely decide:

Answer 1

If the front desk worker sues, the court is likely to rule in her favor by referring to precedents set by Bostock v. Clayton County and Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, which recognize Title VII protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender stereotyping.

Step-by-step explanation:

Analysis of Potential Court Decision

If the front desk worker were to sue Heartland Inns of America for being fired due to her dress style and "masculine" appearance, the court would most likely examine precedent cases such as Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia and Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins. In the Bostock case, the Supreme Court determined that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ employees against discrimination. This includes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Similarly, in Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, the court established that discrimination based on gender stereotyping, such as expectations of "femininity", is a form of sex discrimination prohibited under Title VII.

Given these precedents, it is likely that the court would find that discrimination against the employee based on a perceived failure to conform to gender norms constitutes illegal sex discrimination under Title VII. This means the court could potentially rule in favor of the employee, finding that her termination was a violation of federal anti-discrimination laws.