Legalizing Gender Inequality
Courts, Markets, and Unequal Pay for Women in America
Robert L. Nelson and William P. Bridges
Overview
Through close study of four organizations sued for pay discrimination, this book challenges the idea that gender gaps in pay are simply the product of neutral labor markets. Nelson and Bridges argue that pay is set within organizations and politics as much as by markets, and that courts, in accepting market explanations for wage disparities, have helped legitimate and entrench gender inequality. The book brings sociological, economic, and legal perspectives together to analyze how unequal pay is produced and defended. It is among the most influential statements of Nelson's work on discrimination law and workplace inequality.
Winner of five book awards, including the American Sociological Association's Distinguished Publication Award (2000–01).
Citation
Robert L. Nelson and William P. Bridges. Legalizing Gender Inequality: Courts, Markets, and Unequal Pay for Women in America. Cambridge University Press, 1999.