Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) Practice Test

What is not a protected class?

1. Gender

2. Race

3. Religion

4. Marital status

The correct answer is: Marital status

Marital status is often not considered a protected class under many federal laws, such as the Civil Rights Act, which specifically prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. In contrast, gender, race, and religion are explicitly protected categories in various anti-discrimination laws, ensuring individuals cannot be discriminated against based on these characteristics in employment, housing, and other areas. However, some states may protect against discrimination based on marital status under state law, but it does not have the same broad federal recognition as the other categories listed. This distinction makes marital status the option that is most commonly not recognized as a protected class at the federal level.