Final answer:
Dakota must show she's part of a protected class and that CSC acted with discriminatory intent to establish a prima facie case under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She does not need to prove the absence of CSC's legal defenses or the industry's overall conduct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Establishing a Prima Facie Case of Employment Discrimination
To establish a prima facie case of employment discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Dakota must demonstrate certain elements. Firstly, she must show that she is a member of a protected class, which under the act includes race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Secondly, there must be evidence that discriminatory intent motivated CSC's act against her. This can be a complex process, as the burden is on the plaintiff to demonstrate disparate treatment or impact. Dakota does not need to prove that CSC has no legal defenses against the claim nor that no other firm in the industry has committed a discriminatory act.
Under Title VII, it's unlawful for an employer to discriminate regarding compensation or terms of employment because of an individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Discrimination based on gender is examined under the intermediate scrutiny standard, which requires the government to justify the unequal treatment. Dakota's case could involve comparing her treatment and opportunities to those of her male colleagues to identify instances of potential discrimination in areas such as promotions or pay.