The plaintiffs allege that Wal-Mart's corporate culture and employment policies fostered gender stereotyping and led to adverse treatment of women in all of the retailer's 41 domestic regions.
Plaintiffs' lawyers contend the class members potentially, all women employees who have worked at Wal-Mart since Dec. 26, 1998 were all victimized by a "centralized corporate culture" and are entitled to class status.