Which of the following is an example of a protected class?

Which of the following is an example of a protected class?

• A. Employment Status
• B. Income Level
• C. Sex
• D. Age over 18

Answer: (C)

Protected classes refer to groups of people who are shielded from discrimination under various federal, state, and local laws. Sex, as identified in the answer, falls under the category of gender discrimination protections, which is enforced under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law makes it illegal to discriminate based on sex in various contexts, including housing and employment. When considering the other options, employment status and income level are generally not recognized as protected classes. Discrimination based on these factors may be permissible in certain contexts. While age can be a protected class, the specific designation which would apply here is typically "age 40 and older" rather than simply "age over 18." Thus, while age is a factor in anti-discrimination statutes, it does not meet the standard for a specific protected class under the common framework used in real estate and employment law. The distinction here emphasizes that sex is a clearly defined and widely recognized protected characteristic.

Protected classes refer to groups of people who are shielded from discrimination under various federal, state, and local laws. Sex, as identified in the answer, falls under the category of gender discrimination protections, which is enforced under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law makes it illegal to discriminate based on sex in various contexts, including housing and employment.

When considering the other options, employment status and income level are generally not recognized as protected classes. Discrimination based on these factors may be permissible in certain contexts. While age can be a protected class, the specific designation which would apply here is typically "age 40 and older" rather than simply "age over 18." Thus, while age is a factor in anti-discrimination statutes, it does not meet the standard for a specific protected class under the common framework used in real estate and employment law. The distinction here emphasizes that sex is a clearly defined and widely recognized protected characteristic.