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I'm done with speaking in code about my experiences at R29. So in the spirit of solidarity with my former coworkers of color:
For most of my three years, I was paid $15,000 less than my two white coworkers while doing the exact same job. I covered the wage gap often, ironically. https://twitter.com/AshleyAlese/status/1268224195944726529
For most of my three years, I was paid $15,000 less than my two white coworkers while doing the exact same job. I covered the wage gap often, ironically. https://twitter.com/AshleyAlese/status/1268224195944726529
I was promoted in 2019 and that still didn't close the gap: I was making about $7,000~ less than white women who were now my juniors.
The infuriating part was reporting often on how women should ask for more $$$, while those efforts were frequently shut down internally.
The infuriating part was reporting often on how women should ask for more $$$, while those efforts were frequently shut down internally.
If you look at the R29 website, it's splashed with pictures of women and non-binary folks of all sizes, shapes, and colors.
But as of 2019, R29 was 69% white, according to a well-placed source.
But as of 2019, R29 was 69% white, according to a well-placed source.
Here are some things WOC I know faced:
-being tone-policed
-seeing others take credit for their work
-being mixed up with another WOC who looks nothing like them
-being underpaid, not promoted
-being laid off days after launching a POC sub-brand that sold for six figures
-being tone-policed
-seeing others take credit for their work
-being mixed up with another WOC who looks nothing like them
-being underpaid, not promoted
-being laid off days after launching a POC sub-brand that sold for six figures
One of the company values was (still is?) "radical inclusivity."
By the time I left, six people had resigned from Editorial that year alone. Five of them were women of color. Makes you wonder.
By the time I left, six people had resigned from Editorial that year alone. Five of them were women of color. Makes you wonder.
I believe in transparency and accountability. Management has known about these issues for a long, long time which is why their attempts at allyship ring empty these days. Why call yourself a feminist when you refuse to correct the way in which you treat your staffers of color?
Anyway, I'm off to see, claim, and feel my power. Our industry needs to do better, which is why the time for fear of speaking up about our experiences is over.
The main reason I helped organize our newsroom was because I never wanted any other young woman of color to face what I faced. I'm immensely proud of my former colleagues and grateful they are holding management accountable. https://twitter.com/R29Union/status/1268576166262210560?s=20
