[CIVIL.REG.,121597,0800]
Discrimination Complaints
(Iowa Civil Rights Commission; 12/15/97; 0800)
2,171 DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS FILED LAST YEAR
In Fiscal Year 1997 (from July 1, 1996 to June 30, 1997), the Iowa Civil
Rights Commission (ICRC) received 2,171 new complaints alleging
discrimination.
New Complaints
FY 90 991
FY 91 1282
FY 92 1562
FY 93 1826
FY 94 2038
FY 95 2274
FY 96 2172
FY 97 2171
The great majority of complaints filed in FY 97 alleged discrimination in
the area of employment (86.3%), followed by public accommodations or services
(7%), housing (5.2%), education (1.2%), and credit (.3%).
| Areas | FY 95 | FY 96 | FY 97 | |||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| employment | 1908 | 83.9 | 1859 | 85.6 | 1874 | 86.3 |
| accommodations | 180 | 7.9 | 161 | 7.4 | 152 | 7 |
| housing | 136 | 6 | 126 | 5.8 | 113 | 5.2 |
| education | 34 | 1.5 | 22 | 1 | 26 | 1.2 |
| credit | 16 | .7 | 4 | .2 | 6 | .3 |
Disability was the protected personal characteristic most often alleged
as the basis of discrimination or the reason for discrimination.
| Bases | FY 95 | FY 96 | FY 97 | |||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| disability | 807 | 35.5 | 712 | 32.8 | 839 | 38.6 |
| sex | 830 | 36.5 | 745 | 34.3 | 796 | 36.7 |
| race | 673 | 29.6 | 554 | 25.5 | 522 | 24 |
| age | 357 | 15.7 | 365 | 16.8 | 404 | 18.6 |
| national origin | 109 | 4.8 | 93 | 4.3 | 96 | 4.4 |
| religion | 23 | 1 | 33 | .5 | 66 | 3 |
Termination was the incident or decision most often alleged as discriminatory.
| Incidents FY 97 | # | % |
| termination | 854 | 39.3 |
| terms & conditions | 610 | 28.1 |
| harassment | 356 | 16.4 |
| failure to accommodate | 333 | 16.4 |
| sex harassment | 262 | 12.1 |
| failure to hire | 211 | 9.8 |
| forced to quit | 192 | 8.8 |
| failure to promote | 122 | 5.6 |
| demotion | 99 | 4.6 |
| layoff | 83 | 3.8 |
| unequal pay | 79 | 3.6 |
The Mission of the ICRC is to eliminate discrimination in Iowa. Currently,
the Commission fights discrimination five ways: (1) investigating and resolving
discrimination complaints, (2) educating the public regarding anti-discrimination
law and the value of diversity, (3) testing persons and organizations covered
by the law to determine the nature and extent of discrimination in Iowa,
(4) helping communities build diversity appreciation teams to fight discrimination
locally, and (5) promoting the use of study circles on racism and race relations.
For a copy of ICRC's Fiscal Year 1997 Annual Report, call Don Grove at 515-281-8084
or E-Mail <don.grove@icrc.state.ia.us>. The Report can also be accessed
at ICRC's Website <www.state.ia.us/government/crc>.
-30-
(Contact: Don Grove 515-281-8084)
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