Analysis of FCHR Charges of Discrimination | By Year

Fact #1: Across the board, discrimination charges have been increasing throughout the years (see the first graph/table).

As measured by the total number of charges filed (for each protected characteristic).

In other words, none of the protected characteristics have been charged less.

Fact #2: Since 2000, the proportions have remained steady for each protected characteristic (see the second graph/table).

The ‘proportions’ are measured as a percent of total complaints filed.

For example, age discrimination has stayed in the 18%-24% range.

Takeaway #1: Overall, discrimination has increased throughout the years (as reflected by more and more charges being filed).

Takeaway #2: Throughout the years, the rankings for the different forms of discrimination (eg, age, color, etc.) have remained the same (as seen by the somewhat flattened percentages).

Note #1: In 2000, the graph shows a large spike in discrimination charges. TBD contends that this is not a function of increased discrimination (at that timepoint). Rather, it is a reflection of increased data (borne out of technological advances in public recordkeeping).

Additional: Diving deeper into this dataset reveals more information.

For instance, you can correlate total complaints with [each] discrimination basis (eg, age vs total, color vs total, etc.). Doing this reveals that total complaints are most heavily tied to racial discrimination (ie, racial discrimination impacts the total number of complaints filed with the FCHR – more so than any other basis).

Similarly, you can correlate discrimination bases with each other (eg, age & col, dis & fam, etc.). Doing this reveals that retaliation is the most heavily correlated charge. In other words, when people file complaints with multiple bases (eg, age+sex, age+dis+sex, etc.) retaliation is the most commonly added/included basis.

So, it might be worthwhile to look at how discrimination charges vary when retaliation is involved:

retaliation incidence;