Indianapolis firefighter Tonya Coffman sued the Indianapolis Fire Department and several of its employees alleging sex discrimination under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., and privacy intrusions amounting to violations of her due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment, see 42 U.S.C. § 1983. She also brought several state-law claims. Her claims arise from what she alleges were a number of discriminatory driving evaluations and fitness for duty evaluations. The district court dismissed the state-law claims without prejudice and granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on all of Coffman’s remaining claims. She appeals, and we affirm.
I
Coffman, who is by her own description five feet tall “with shoes on,” began working for the Indianapolis Fire Department in April 2001. She worked as a “substitute” firefighter until 2005, rotating shifts at various fire stations throughout the Department. Her tenure was apparently unremarkable until late 2003. In Octоber and November 2003, two fellow firefighters who had ridden as passengers with Coffman in department vehicles expressed concern about her driving ability. In the first e-mail, Lieutenant Montgomery Hoyt wrote Division Chief of Health and Safety, Howard Stahl, and Assistant Chief Mickey Radez, observing that Coffman needed to put the bench seat all the way forward in order to reach the pedals and needed to “literally hold on to the steering wheel for supрort.” 1 Within several days another firefighter e-mailed several chiefs stating that he and Lieutenant Hoyt were concerned that Coffman could not safely operate the vehicle because she had to look through the steering wheel to see out the front window and use her upper body to hold herself up in her seat. Then in early November yet another firefighter wrote an e-mail to Chief Charlie Miller expressing his concern that Coffman could not reach the pedals in a particular squad car without sitting on the edge of the seat.
These e-mails prompted a series of so-called “safety evaluations” of Coffman’s driving. Chief Stahl conducted the first evaluation in December 2003. Coffman sat in the driver’s seat of three different squad cars while Chief Stahl reviewed her positioning. He concluded that “the only concern” was Coffman’s proximity to the steering wheеl and airbag, but he found “no safety concerns or reasons for not allowing Private Coffman to drive these squads.” Chief Stahl did not, however, evaluate Coffman on squad 10, which she admitted was difficult to drive because neither the steering wheel nor seat back were adjustable. He recommended that Coffman work with Captain Julie Baade “for a short term for further evaluation.” Captain Baade drove with Coffman twice and afterward e-mailed Chief Stahl with her opinion that Coffman “did a good job.”
Despite Captain Baade’s largely favorable report, the concern about Coffman’s driving persisted into 2004 and expanded into a critique of her paramedic skills as well. In January of 2004, yet another fellow firefighter e-mailed Chief Stahl with a “few safety concerns” about Coffman’s driving. They included his belief that the seat did not move forward enough for her to see properly оver the wheel and his *562 belief that she had difficulty maintaining proper contact with the pedals. The continuing concerns prompted another round of evaluations by Captain Baade. This time Captain Baade’s report alleged deficiencies in other areas, including her perception that Coffman had difficulty socializing with and asking for help from fellow firefighters. Captain Baade gave Coffman a copy of the “review” for her to sign, and also documented her belief that Coffman “acted mad or upset” after going over the list.
Following Captain Baade’s review, a number of officers broached concerns about Coffman’s well-being and other issues. Specifically, the Emergency Medical Services Duty Officer, Gregory Robinson, e-mailed Chief Charlie Miller, stating that he had noticed that Coffman was “often alone or withdrawn” and seemed to be “defensive” for “no legitimate reason.” Lieutenant Robinson’s observations prompted a number of other individuals to become involved, including Chief Stahl.
Ultimately Lieutenant Robinson met with Coffman and another Lieutenant to discuss some of her “weaknesses” in EMS skills. Lieutenant Robinson later reported that Coffman had been “defensive” and that she had wanted to know whether there were any complaints in writing.
Shortly thereafter, Chief Radez emailed all of the officers and instructed them that if they believed a firefighter was underperforming they should document their concerns. He also told the officers to recommend a professional evaluation if any concerns regarding mental or physical fitness for duty arose. The same day, Captain Brian Black e-mailed several fire chiefs after Coffman had been at his station only two days, noting that she seemed “withdrawn” and suggesting that it might be in “the best interest of everyone” to consult a professional. Several days later, Chief Longerich recommended that Coffman undergo a “fitness for duty psychological evaluation” and a continued assessment of her EMS skills and driving abilities. He also recommended that Coffman be transferred immediately from firefighting and EMS duties to “limited duty status.”
Coffman then met with Dr. Deanna L. Bartholomew for an evaluation. Dr. Bartholomew concluded that although Cоffman was not suffering from any type of psychological disorder (including depression), she was obviously unhappy with “some aspect of her worklife.” She recommended referring Coffman to six weeks of individual therapy through a private therapist unaffiliated with the Department and recommended a light-duty assignment on account of Coffman’s “withdrawn demean- or and unwillingness to explain what is bothering her.” After just three sessions, the private theraрist documented that he had “not noted any intellectual or emotional difficulties which would interfere with her ability to perform her job.” He thus recommended that she be returned for another fitness for duty evaluation. This time Dr. Bartholomew concluded based on Coffman’s defensive attitude about why she was there that she was “overreacting ... and acting out in an immature and hostile manner.” Although she discerned “no evidence of mental or physiсal problems that would prevent her from effectively performing her job duties,” Dr. Bartholomew nevertheless deemed her unfit for duty on account of her choice to be “extremely resistant.”
A month passed before Coffman was again evaluated — this time by Dr. Jeffrey Savitsky. He deemed Coffman prepared to return to light-duty status for three or four weeks. Five weeks later, Coffman returned for a follow-up evaluation and Dr. Savitsky recоmmended that she return to active duty, which she did.
*563 Coffman sued the Indianapolis Fire Department, Assistant Chief Radez, Chief Miller, and Chief Stovall, claiming that the driving tests and fitness for duty evaluations amounted to gender discrimination and sexual harassment under Title VII. She also alleged that the Department violated the ADA by requiring multiple medical examinations that were neither job-related nor consistent with business necessity. See 42 U.S.C. § 12112(d)(4)(A). Finally, she advanced a claim under § 1983 that the individual defendants had violated her procedural and substantive due process rights. The district court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on all of Coffman’s federal claims.
II.
On appeal, Coffman contends that the district court incorrectly granted summary judgment on her Title VII claims, her ADA claim, and her due process claims. We review the district court’s decision de novo, considering all facts in the light most favorable to Coffman.
See Teal v. Potter,
Bеginning with her Title VII claims, Coffman maintains that she advanced sufficient evidence of discrimination to withstand summary judgment under either the direct or indirect method articulated in
McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,
In order to make out a case of sex discrimination without resorting to
McDonnell Douglas,
a plaintiff must provide either direct or circumstantial evidence that supports an inference of intentional discrimination.
E.g., Petts v. Rockledge Furniture, LLC,
She also claims that the fire department discriminated against her as a short female in particular. We have not yet decided in this circuit whether we recognize a “sex-plus” theory of discrimination,
see Logan v. Kautex Textron N. Am.,
Whether or not we explicitly recognize “sex plus height” as a vehicle for a Title VII discrimination suit, Coffman must demonstrate that the driving evaluations, the fitness for duty evaluations, and the subsequent suspensions from duty and reassignment to light duty occurred at least in part because she is female. On this front, Coffman simply reiterates that she “is a woman and therefore a member of a protected class under Title VII.” The fact that she is a female, without more, goes nowhere towards demonstrating mistreatment
on account of
her sex. Certainly many females (and males) have endured unpleasant behavior in a work force, but Title VII is not a panacea for bad behavior in the workplace; it fоrbids discrimination with respect to an individual’s “compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment,
because of
such individual’s ... sex[J” 42 U.S.C. § 2000e~2(a)(l) (emphasis added). In short, Coffman has failed to link her treatment — through either circumstantial or direct evidence — with the fact that she is female. Summary judgment was thus appropriate on Coffman’s Title VII discrimination claim.
See Stearns v. Consol. Mgmt., Inc.,
Coffman also maintains that the job criticism, performance evaluations and psychological evaluations amounted to “gender harassment” that created a hostile work environment. In order to sustain such a claim under Title VII, Coffman must demonstrate workplace harassment that is both objectively and subjectively severe and pervasive.
E.g., Lloyd v. Swifty Transp., Inc.,
We do not think Coffman endured objectively severe and pervasive harassment. Undoubtedly the repeated driving evaluations and the fitness for duty examinations were subjectively unpleasant. Particularly given Coffman’s alleged lack of knowledge as to what prompted the series of evaluations and exams, it could not have been easy for Coffman to go through the repeated critiques of her driving, her paramedic skills, and her mental stability. Nonetheless, we do not think the evaluations amounted to demeaning, degrading, or hostile behavior by the defendants.
See Hilt-Dyson v. City of Chicago,
Coffman next claims that the fire department violated the ADA by referring her for unnecessary psychological evaluations. Section 12112(d)(4)(A) of the ADA prohibits covered entities from requiring a medical examination or inquiring whether an “employee is an individual with a disability or as to the nature or severity of the disability, unless such examination or inquiry is shown to be job-related and consistent with business necessity.” 42 U.S.C. § 2112(d)(4)(A). The ADA also allows inquiries “into the ability of an employee to perform job-related functions.” Id. at § 12112(d)(4)(B).
Coffman maintains that no objective evidence supported the defendants’ decision to refer her for the fitness for duty evaluations. Thе EEOC enforcement guidelines state that a medical examination is job-related and consistent with business necessity when an employer has a reasonable belief based on objective evidence that a medical condition will impair an employee’s ability to perform essential job functions or that the employee will pose a threat due to a medical condition. We have acknowledged that inquiries intо an employee’s psychiatric health may be permissible when they reflect concern for the safety of employees and the “public at large.”
See Krocka v. City of Chicago,
Here, the Department’s decision to refer Coffman for the fitness for duty evaluations took place against the backdrop of two firefighter suicides in the preceding months. Coffman’s well-being was essential not only to her safety but to the public at large; thus, the Department had a particularly compelling interest in assuring that she was both physically and mentally fit to perform her duties. Here, multiple firefighters had expressed concern that Coffman did not seem like herself. When Chief Radez referred Coffman for an evaluation, he reported that although Coffman had initially been outgoing, she had become guarded to the extеnt that he believed there was a possibility that she was suffering from paranoia. Brian Black also reported to Chief Radez that Coffman seemed withdrawn and uncommunicative with other firefighters. In an April 2004 e-mail to Chief Miller, Gregory Robinson stated that he was “concerned about Tonya’s mental well-being” and that he believed that she “showed signs of depression, more than just having a bad day.” Robinson based his assessment on his observation that Coffman seemed unable “to make decisions or even perform routine tasks on the scene of an incident without being told or prompted.” Robinson also noted that at the firehouse Coffman was often “alone or withdrawn” and became “defensive” for “no legitimate reason.” Robinson acknowledged that he was not a “trained psychologist,” but pointed out that in light of the tragic incidents with two other firefighters he thought himself obligated not to “ignore these apparent symptoms of depression.” That same day Brian Black e-mailed several chiefs with *566 his observation that Coffman seemed different than other substitutes he had seen at the station in that she was withdrawn and not very communicative. He admitted the possibility that knowledge of Coffman’s history could be coloring his judgment, but thought that particularly in light of the recent suicides “it may be in the best interest of everyone concerned that a professional be consulted” to correct any problems “so all parties can get [on] with their jobs.”
The e-mails paint a consistent picture of genuine concern that Coffman’s behavior was uncharacteristic and was adversely impacting her ability to perform her job. Although a psychological evaluation in response to “withdrawn” and “defensive” behavior might not be job-related in many vocations, we dо not second-guess the propriety of such an evaluation for a firefighter. The Department has an obligation to the public to ensure that its workforce is both mentally and physically capable of performing what is doubtless mentally and physically demanding work. This special work environment convinces us that the Department’s decision to refer Coffman for the fitness for duty evaluations was job-related and consistent with business neсessity.
See Krocka,
Finally, Coffman argues that the Department violated both her substantive and procedural due process rights by disclosing her medical records and failing to hold a hearing before suspending her frоm her regular firefighting duties. She maintains that because there was no legitimate reason to refer her for a psychological evaluation, that decision was arbitrary and violated her substantive due process rights.
The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects an individual’s “interest in avoiding disclosure of' personal matters.”
Whalen v. Roe,
Coffman next argues that the Department’s failure to provide her with notice and a hearing prior to her suspension from regular firefighting duties violated her procedural due process rights. In the dis
*567
trict court, Coffman maintained that she had a protected property interest in hеr employment — an argument the district court rejected because she failed to identify any statutory provision granting her a property interest in her employment as a firefighter. Coffman now argues, relying on
City of Mishawaka v. Stewart,
III.
For the foregoing reasons we Affirm the judgment of the district court.
Notes
. Lieutenant Hoyt's e-mail is dated October 18, 2003, but Coffman denies driving with Hoyt before October 21st. She does not, however, go so far as to suggest that Lieutenant Hoyt fabricated the incident, nor does she dispute that Chiefs Stahl and Radez received Lieutenant Hoyt's e-mail and presumed his account to be true.