Women's supreme court cases

Question 1

What did the ruling in Bradwell v. Illinois (1873) uphold?

Answer 1

The state’s right to deny women law licenses

It ruled that the 14th Amendment didn’t protect women’s right to work in professions and reinforced gender roles.

Question 2

What was the outcome of Minor v. Happersett (1875)?

Answer 2

Women did not have a constitutional right to vote under the 14th Amendment

This ruling denied suffrage to women.

Question 3

What did Muller v. Oregon (1908) uphold?

Answer 3

Laws limiting women’s work hours

The ruling was based on the idea of female ‘fragility’ and was used to justify inequality in the workplace.

Question 4

What was the significance of Hoyt v. Florida (1961)?

Answer 4

It upheld a law excluding women from mandatory jury duty

The ruling cited women’s primary role in the home.

Question 5

Define Coverture.

Answer 5

A common-law doctrine that made married women legally subordinate to their husbands

Under coverture, married women lacked independent legal identity.

Question 6

What did Mackenzie v. Hare (1884) determine regarding a woman’s citizenship?

Answer 6

A woman’s citizenship depended on her husband’s nationality

This ruling set the stage for the 1907 Expatriation Act.

Question 7

What did Johnson Controls (1991) reverse?

Answer 7

Workplace policies excluding fertile women from certain jobs

This case marked an important turning point for women’s rights.

Question 8

What was the ruling of Planned Parenthood vs Casey 1992?

Answer 8

Affirmed ROe v Wade but ruled states could regulate it as long as the regulations didn’t place a substantial obstacle in the way of a woman’s ability to choose.