Equal
Employment Opportunity legislation was influenced heavily by changing attitudes
toward employment discriminations, with discriminant acts becoming more frowned
upon as society grew, published reports that highlighted economic problems of
those being discriminated against, allowing the general public to know of the
consequences discrimination has had on individuals, and by a growing body of
disparate laws and government regulations that directly dealt with
discrimination in the work place.
One
of the most publicly known events that influenced EEO legislation was the civil
rights movements that reached its height around the 1950’s and 1960’s. During
this time minorities made a stand against public discrimination, setting up
marches, sit-ins, rallies and any other type of event that would lead to a
further increase in the publicity gained by the movement. This fight against
discrimination lead to significant increase in the support of the movement,
with more of the population coming to know, and in many cases, sympathize with
the rebelling minority groups.
Other
events that influenced this legislation was a string of acts passed by congress
from the late 1866’s to the early 1960’s, such as the Civil right act of 1866
which gave all people the right to full and equal benefits under the law. These
acts helped create a foundation that assisted in the nurturing a care of
minority workers and lead the beginning of the early efforts to push for a
greater sense of equality. They also laid the ground work for the creation of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Finally,
on of the major stimuli to the creation of EEO legislation was the increasing
public awareness of the continuously increasing difference in economic status
between white and minority working class citizens, which lead to a further
increase in the sympathizing of those, being discriminated against.
