The financial firm behind the "Fearless Girl" statue, which popped up directly across from the hideous Wall Street Bull in New York back in March, have agreed to shell out millions in response to claims of discrimination against hundreds of women employees. State Street Corporation allegedly paid 305 top women employees less than men doing the exact same work, the New York Timesreported Friday. The firm is also alleged to have discriminated against 15 black vice presidents by paying them less than their white counterparts.
Though State Street still denies the allegations, they have agreed to pay an estimated $4.5 in back pay and an additional $500,000 interest stemming from workers' compensation dating back to December 2010. The U.S. Department of Labor first started looking into discrimination claims back in 2012.
The statue was crafted by artist Kristen Visbal (who is not involved with these allegations) in celebration of International Women's Day, during which many across the world took off work in solidarity and marched in the streets. The statue, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said at the time, held special meaning due to the distinctly anti-woman attitudes of alleged POTUS Donald Trump.
"That sense that women were not going to live in fear, that women were going to teach their daughters and all the women in their lives to believe in themselves," he said. "Sometimes, a symbol helps us become whole, and I think the 'Fearless Girl' is having that same effect. She is inspiring everyone at a moment when we need inspiration."
However, some were early in raising concerns regarding the commissioners of the statue. In a piece for the Guardian in March, Cara Sheffler called the statue an example of "corporate feminism." Other pointed out that, at the time, only five of the 28 people in State Street leadership roles were women.
