Which of the following is NOT a protected class under the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 aims to eliminate discrimination in various areas including employment, education, and public accommodations based on specific characteristics known as protected classes. Protected classes explicitly listed in the Act include race, color, religion, sex (gender), and national origin.

Occupation, however, is not included as a protected class under this Act. Discrimination based on occupation is not covered by the Civil Rights Act; instead, it often relates more to employment practices and decisions that are not directly about the inherent characteristics of the individual but instead may depend on the job or role they hold. This distinction highlights the focus of the Civil Rights Act on characteristics that are tied to identity rather than job-related factors.