Which of the following acts provides protection against employment discrimination on the basis of gender?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark piece of legislation that was designed to address and prohibit discrimination on several bases, including race, color, religion, national origin, and sex (gender). This act established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and made it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees or job applicants based on their gender, among other characteristics.

This protection against gender discrimination encompasses various employment aspects, including hiring, firing, promotions, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment. By addressing gender discrimination explicitly, the Civil Rights Act plays a critical role in promoting equality and fairness in the workplace.

While the other options focus on different aspects of discrimination — the Age Discrimination in Employment Act specifically addresses discrimination based on age, the Americans with Disabilities Act focuses on those with disabilities, and the Equal Pay Act deals with wage disparities based on sex — it is the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that broadly encompasses protections against employment discrimination specifically due to gender.