Possible Discrimination Case

[magnusneptune]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

California

So walked into the a supermarket and one of the employees, I suspect was the manager, told me I had to leave my backpack up behind the counter. I refused on the fact I had my cellphone and my medication in it and I wasn't going to take the chance of losing it. I asked him if he lets in women with large purses. He said, "Yes, but a back pack is different and that I should leave the store". Though he told me it was store policy, I feel that the policy is sexual discrimination has there are some purses larger than backpacks.

Am I right?

What other legal recourses do I have? Do I have to surrender my personal items before shopping. I know, I can shop other places, but it's humiliating to be treated like a thief.

I kind of what to write a nasty letter to his boss, but I know they'll use it to blow their noise and nothing will change.

Thank you.

[cbg]

Unless you are prepared to show that a woman with a similar backpack to yours would have been allowed in, you're going to have a very stiff row to hoe to make this into a discrimination claim. Both men and women carry backpacks.

[Hot Topic]

There are stores that require shoppers of BOTH sexes to leave backpacks at the front counter since it's common knowledge that a backpack is one of the favorite tools of shoplifters.

I once saw a woman struggling outside a building with a man who she thought had snatched her purse and hidden it in his backpack.

How do you think the store manager took your statement that you were afraid to leave your bag at the counter because you might lose it? Could he have thought you were implying that one of the employees manning the counter might take it? Just a thought.

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by magnusneptune

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

California

So walked into the a supermarket and one of the employees, I suspect was the manager, told me I had to leave my backpack up behind the counter. I refused on the fact I had my cellphone and my medication in it and I wasn't going to take the chance of losing it. I asked him if he lets in women with large purses. He said, "Yes, but a back pack is different and that I should leave the store". Though he told me it was store policy, I feel that the policy is sexual discrimination has there are some purses larger than backpacks.

Am I right?

What other legal recourses do I have? Do I have to surrender my personal items before shopping. I know, I can shop other places, but it's humiliating to be treated like a thief.

I kind of what to write a nasty letter to his boss, but I know they'll use it to blow their noise and nothing will change.

Thank you.

**A: you have no case. Why did you not leave the backpack and carry your phone and meds on your person while shopping?

[quincy]

Having to surrender your backpack at the door before shopping seems to be a fairly common practice in the college town stores I've shopped at. You learn after awhile to hand the backpack over upon entering or leave the backpack at home.

You could always transfer all of your backpack stuff into a large purse, you know. THEN you would be able to scream discrimination if you were required to hand your purse over when the females were allowed to carry theirs.

[magnusneptune]

Thanks for the replies.

The reason I didn't take my things out of my bag was that there was no need to. They guy was an idiot and I wasn't going to shop there. There's other places in town.

I mean, really, I'm going to make a personal compromise to shop at a store? Give me a break.

I think if that happens again, I'm going to find ways in which it's more time consuming on their part to enforce their policy that it's actually worth it. Something like require the names of all the employees in the store at the time I shop there or have the manager sign some sort of legal contract before I surrender my backpack to them. I'll be sure the contract is long and wordy.

I am rarely asked to surrender my back pack, which is usually with me at all times. Plus everything's on camera anyways.

Originally Posted by quincy

You could always transfer all of your backpack stuff into a large purse, you know. THEN you would be able to scream discrimination if you were required to hand your purse over when the females were allowed to carry theirs.

Oh I thought of that. Next time, I'll carry and even larger purse than my backpack.


I did a back pack, I was on bike.

[cyjeff]

Originally Posted by magnusneptune

Thanks for the replies.

The reason I didn't take my things out of my bag was that there was no need to. They guy was an idiot and I wasn't going to shop there. There's other places in town.

And that is how you legally retaliate.

I mean, really, I'm going to make a personal compromise to shop at a store? Give me a break.

You are still a young person. I assure you that you haven't begun to make compromises for lesser reasons yet.

I think if that happens again, I'm going to find ways in which it's more time consuming on their part to enforce their policy that it's actually worth it. Something like require the names of all the employees in the store at the time I shop there or have the manager sign some sort of legal contract before I surrender my backpack to them. I'll be sure the contract is long and wordy

Neither would work.

One, the manager doesn't have to answer a single one of your questions. Two, the manager doesn't have to accept YOUR terms for shopping in HIS store.

You follow his rules or you leave. Period.

I am rarely asked to surrender my back pack, which is usually with me at all times. Plus everything's on camera anyways.

Doesn't change a single thing.

Oh I thought of that. Next time, I'll carry and even larger purse than my backpack.

I am sure you will be very pretty.

I did a back pack, I was on bike.

Let's leave your sex life out of this.