; (2) to diminish public and private health care costs by enabling workers to seek early and routine health care for themselves and their family members; (3) to assist employees who are, or whose family members are, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, by providing the employees with paid time away from work to allow the victims to receive treatment and to take the necessary steps to ensure their protection; (4) to address the historical and persistent widespread pattern of employment discrimination on the basis of gender by both private and public sector employers; (5) to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (4) in a manner that is feasible for employers; and (6) consistent with the provision of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution relating to equal protection of the laws, and pursuant to Congress' power to enforce that provision under section 5 of that Amendment— (A) to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (4) in a manner that minimizes the potential for employment discrimination on the basis of sex by ensuring generally that paid sick time is available for eligible medical reasons on a gender-neutral basis; and (B) to promote the goal of equal employment opportunity for women and men. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Child The term child means a biological, foster, or adopted child, a stepchild, a child of a domestic partner, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis, who is— (A) under 18 years of age