Craig v. Boren

Definition

Craig v. Boren is a landmark Supreme Court case from 1976 that established an important precedent for gender discrimination under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The ruling found that a law allowing women to purchase beer at a younger age than men was unconstitutional, setting a standard for how laws can treat genders differently. This case is pivotal in discussing the levels of scrutiny applied in equal protection cases and has significant implications for the constitutional standards surrounding gender equality.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Supreme Court ruled in Craig v. Boren that the Oklahoma statute allowing women to purchase beer at age 18 while requiring men to be 21 violated the Equal Protection Clause.
2. The Court applied intermediate scrutiny in this case, which is less stringent than strict scrutiny but more rigorous than rational basis review.
3. The ruling emphasized that stereotypes about gender roles cannot justify differential treatment in laws.
4. Craig v. Boren marked a shift towards recognizing the importance of gender equality in legal standards, impacting subsequent cases related to discrimination.
5. This case laid the groundwork for future challenges against laws seen as discriminatory based on sex, significantly influencing gender equality jurisprudence.

Review Questions

• How did Craig v. Boren influence the application of intermediate scrutiny in cases of gender discrimination?
  • Craig v. Boren established that laws differentiating between genders are subject to intermediate scrutiny, which requires that such laws serve an important government objective and be substantially related to that objective. This marked a departure from previous lower standards of review, elevating the level of scrutiny applied to gender-based classifications. As a result, this case has had lasting effects on how courts assess gender discrimination claims.
• Discuss how the ruling in Craig v. Boren addressed the issue of stereotypes related to gender roles in law.
  • In its decision, the Supreme Court criticized the use of stereotypes concerning gender roles as justification for legal distinctions. The ruling highlighted that discriminatory laws cannot be based on outdated assumptions about men's and women's abilities or behaviors. This shift signifies a broader recognition that such stereotypes undermine principles of equality and fail to meet constitutional standards under the Equal Protection Clause.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of Craig v. Boren for future legal battles regarding gender equality and discrimination.
  • The long-term implications of Craig v. Boren are significant, as it set a precedent for heightened scrutiny of gender-based laws and contributed to a greater understanding of gender equality within constitutional law. Subsequent cases have drawn upon this decision to challenge various discriminatory practices, reflecting a growing recognition of gender issues in legal frameworks. As societal views on gender continue to evolve, the principles established in Craig v. Boren will likely remain central to ongoing discussions and litigation surrounding gender rights.

Related terms

Equal Protection Clause: A provision in the Fourteenth Amendment that requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all individuals within their jurisdictions.

Intermediate Scrutiny: A standard of review used by courts to evaluate laws that discriminate based on gender, requiring that such laws serve an important governmental objective and be substantially related to that objective.

Gender Discrimination: The practice of treating individuals differently in employment, education, or other areas based on their gender, which is prohibited under various federal and state laws.