Which of the following issues is NOT covered under the federal sex discrimination statute?

The correct choice represents an issue that is not specifically covered under federal sex discrimination statutes, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Affirmative action in hiring is a policy strategy aimed at addressing historical inequalities and promoting diversity, but it is not directly related to the legal prohibitions against sex discrimination itself.

Federal law does prohibit sex discrimination, which includes prohibitions against unequal pay for equal work, discrimination based on gender identity, and gender-based harassment. Pay equity issues fall under the Equal Pay Act, which is part of the broader framework of civil rights laws aimed at preventing discrimination based on sex. Discrimination based on gender identity has increasingly been recognized under Title VII as forms of sex discrimination. Gender-based harassment, including sexual harassment, is explicitly prohibited under federal law, affirming the right of all employees to work in an environment free from such discrimination.

Affirmative action initiatives, while they may aim to reduce the impacts of discrimination, are regulatory frameworks and policies that are implemented by employers rather than a direct form of discrimination that would fall under the prohibitions of federal sex discrimination statutes.