Discrimination is etched into the lines of our paychecks. A
closer look at racial and gender wage gaps reveals serious problems
with intersectional workplace discrimination in our societal
structures.
Who you are affects how you are paid. The fight for pay equity
is an ongoing issue lacking proper awareness.
In order to make strides to mend this issue, we must acknowledge that
systemic racism lines our communities - as well as our pockets - and
specifically targets
Black and Indigenous people, as well as other people of colour.
This racism disenfranchises individuals in their daily lives, and
contributes to cycles of discrimination and poverty - and we want to
change that.
equalize is a website that displays data and reports relating
to workplace discrimination and the wage gap. Our goal is to help
induce change within the system by shining a light on these issues. We
hope that our database and website spark
public interest and constructive discussion about the wage gap and
workplace discrimination. We want the workplace to change and to be a safe and equal place
for everyone. Finally, we support marginalized communities and we will
do our best to make their voices and stories heard.
There are serious problems in our system relating to
discrimination against the Black community and other racial
minorities. This can be seen simply by comparing the wages of people of
different races and genders. There have been many cases where two
people, who work the same job and hold the same position, receive
different salaries and opportunities. In the majority of these cases,
the person receiving the lower salary tends to be a person of a
visible minority. Cases such as these are not uncommon and highlight
the importance of fighting for equality and justice in all areas of
life, including in the workplace.
The stigma surrounding sharing salaries only contributes to racial and
gender income inequality. Too often, we see people attach their salary
to their self worth. Thus, revealing your salary becomes the
equivalent of revealing who you are. equalize anonymizes reports so
that you can share your professional experiences and learn about the
wage gap without having to worry about your identity.
Differences in treatment in workplace environments and differences in
education levels due to salary disparity demonstrate how
income discrepancy fuels overall inequality. The wage gap is an
issue stemming from a combination of injustices that many minority
groups experience.
Our goal with equalize is to provide you with the information you need
to recognize any subconscious prejudices and work towards eliminating
them. Whether you are in a position of privilege or not, understanding
the difference in salaries between you and your peers will allow us
all to fight for pay equity.