FUMA Erklärvideo zum Thema Intersektionalität

The Case of Emma de Grafenried: A Story About Intersectionality

Background on Emma de Grafenried

• Emma de Grafenried was an African-American woman from St. Louis who faced employment discrimination.

• In 1974, she was laid off from General Motors after one year due to job cuts, which disproportionately affected Black women.

• Along with five colleagues, Emma sued General Motors for racist and sexist discrimination but lost the case.

Legal Arguments and Outcomes

• The court ruled against Emma's claims by stating that General Motors employed both women and Black men, thus negating claims of sexism or racism.

• Emma argued that historically, General Motors did not hire Black women until the Civil Rights Act was enacted; this led to their vulnerability during layoffs.