Systemic Discrimination
Systemic discrimination is the kind of discrimination that is built into the way organizations and governments operate and often involves informal activities and cultures.
Systemic discrimination is more hidden than adverse effect discrimination. Here are some examples:
- Pay inequity between men and women is a type of systemic discrimination. Many traditionally female-dominated jobs are paid less than traditionally male-dominated jobs even though the level of education and skill required may be the same.
- In 1997, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found that Health Canada engaged in systemic discrimination against its racialized employees. Racialized employees were under-represented in senior management, making up less than 1% of executive positions, altough they made up a higher proportion of scientific and professional positions. The Tribunal also found that Health Canada’s senior management considered racialized employees as “culturally different” and “not suitable for management positions”. To read the decision, visit NCARR v. Health Canada, 28 C.H.R.R D/179
→ For information about the types of discrimination covered by the NWT Human Rights Act, visit Areas & Grounds.
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