GRE Reading Comprehension

Home > GRE Test > GRE Reading Comprehension Questions

Next steps

Source: XDF

Sex-defined protective laws have often been based on stereotypical assumptions concerning women's needs and abilities, and employers have frequently used them as legal excuses for discriminating against women. After the Second World War, for example, businesses and government sought to persuade women to vacate jobs in factories, thus making room in the labor force for returning veterans. The revival or passage of state laws limiting the daily or weekly work hours of women conveniently accomplished this. Employers had only to declare that overtime hours were a necessary condition of employment or promotion in their factory, and women could be quite legally fired, refused jobs, or kept at low wage levels, all in the name of "protecting" their health. At the same time, even the most well- intentioned lawmakers, courts, and employers have often been blind to the real needs of women. The lawmakers and the courts continue to permit employers to offer employee health insurance plans that cover all known human medical disabilities except those relating to pregnancy and childbirth.

Question List: 1 2

According to the author, which of the following resulted from the passage or revival of state laws limiting the work hours of women workers?

  • A Women workers were compelled to leave their jobs in factories.
  • B Many employers had difficulty in providing jobs for returning veterans.
  • C Many employers found it hard to attract women workers.
  • D The health of most women factory workers improved.
  • E Employment practices that addressed the real needs of women workers became common.

Show Answer

Previous       Next