Columbia University alumnus sues ex-professor – who also wrote best-selling book The Art of Choosing – for gender discrimination after offering women ‘feminine jobs’ like ‘applying makeup and booking restaurants’
- A Columbia faculty member is being sued for gender-based discrimination
- Researcher Elizabeth Blackwell says Sheena Iyengar gave her ‘feminine’ jobs
- Iyengar is the bestselling author of The Art of Choosing and gives TED talks
- Blackwell says a male colleague was given a fair job but was tasked with booking restaurants for Iyengar’s date nights and applying her make-up
- Iyengar is blind and said he needs accommodation and assistance
A best-selling author and Columbia University professor is being sued by a female former student who alleges she was discriminated against based on her gender.
Elizabeth Blackwell filed a lawsuit this year arguing that Sheena Iyengar assigned her tasks in a ‘gender-friendly way’ during her tenure as a research assistant at Columbia Business School – and that her male colleague was given more Serious work was given.
Washington Square News reported that according to the complaint, he was given “personal and helpful” tasks because he was “better suited” to the “female gender.”
Blackwell claims she needed to make dinner reservations and apply Iyengar’s makeup. Iyengar – who is blind – has previously spoken about how she faces difficulties and therefore often needs assistance.
She also claims that Iyengar tried to set her up on their dates, which she found ‘extremely irritating’.
Blackwell’s complaint reveals she got the job after a lengthy five-month interview process and that her male counterpart ‘didn’t face any of the barriers Ms Blackwell was forced to overcome’.
Elizabeth Blackwell (left) is suing Sheena Iyengar and Columbia for gender discrimination. Ayanga (right) is being accused of assigning Blackwell ‘female’ tasks as his research supervisor
Columbia claims to have conducted a preliminary investigation into the dispute, but Blackwell says in his complaint that many of his issues were ignored.
Iyengar is a faculty member at Columbia Business School and rose to fame after giving TED Talks. She is also the author of the best selling book The Art of Choosing.
When Blackwell complained after his contract with the university was terminated in 2019, Iyengar responded that he was in fact being harassed.
Iyengar said in the recorded conversation, ‘If there was discrimination in this office, it was the discrimination I felt as a blind professor who was constantly being bullied by my staff and the very needs of this position. Did not fulfill. by WSN.
Iyengar is a faculty member at Columbia Business School and author of the best-selling book The Art of Choosing
Iyengar has previously spoken about how she faces difficulties in the world as a blind person and therefore often needs humanitarian assistance
Andrew Schilling, one of two attorneys representing Iyengar and Columbia, has until January 2023 to prepare an answer to the complaint, according to court documents.
Although Columbia claims to have conducted a preliminary investigation into the dispute, Blackwell states in his complaint that several of his issues were ignored.
Blackwell said, ‘It became very clear to me at that point that they were not prepared to support me.’
His attorney David Detofol – who previously asked to be removed from the case due to ‘irreconcilable differences’ but has since withdrawn that offer – called the university’s decision to cancel Blackwell’s contract in January 2019 as ‘vindictive’. ‘ Told.
Blackwell said that after leaving university she struggled to find work and struggled with various issues including depression, insomnia and anxiety – which she attributes to working under Iyengar.
