Screw the Hierarchy

The stereotypes that keep most of us out of power at work

Episode Summary

There's one MAJOR factor that keeps mostly white men in power and the rest of us out of it: stereotypes. And they're not just reinforced at work. They're reinforced in the courts, rendering discrimination law not powerful enough to disrupt social hierarchies at work. That power results in a distinct hierarchy along demographics and income — aka how we as a culture value work as it relates to racial and gender stereotypes and how much comfort groups can experience with their incomes. Authors of the book Rights on Trial report this hierarchy of median incomes by demographic in 2014: Asian American men, $59,766 White men, $58,712 Asian American women, $48,419 White women, $44,236 African American men, $41,167 African American women, $35,212 Latino men, $35,114 Latina women, $30,329 (yes — that's about HALF the median income of Asian American men) If you've been abused at work related to your race, gender, disability, age, or other demographic and would like to share your story anonymously, email info@dignitytogether.org. If you feel like you need more help, I have a free guide to recovery steps at dignitytogether.org/targets and a signup for daily boosts through your inbox at the same place. Facebook: @HierarchyPodcast Twitter: @ScrewHierarchy