Everyday Knowledge on Equal Pay: Power, Discourse, and the Limits of Public Debate

Discussions on gender equality in Switzerland revolve primarily around pay equity and discrimination—topics that are both highly visible and deeply contested in public and political debates. These debates are largely shaped by state actors, civil society organizations, and companies. Perspectives of the general public are largely unknown. While some perspectives on pay equity gain traction, others remain excluded from dominant discourses. Drawing on a secondary analysis of a representative survey of the Swiss working population (Gleichstellungsbarometer 2018, focus: pay equity), we examine the everyday knowledge of the Swiss population on equal pay. Through a triangulation of descriptive, content, and discourse analysis, we show that
a) Many people have well-informed perspectives on how to address pay discrimination and they take up more far-reaching measures that are marginalized in the political debate on the federal level.
b) Opposition to pay equity measures is concentrated within specific social groups - predominantly men with medium-level education, higher management positions, and residence in central and northwestern Switzerland.
We situate these findings within broader questions of epistemic hierarchies, power relations, and political representation. We explore the mechanisms through which certain forms of knowledge about equal pay are amplified, while others remain marginalized or delegitimized in political and public discourse. Finally, we discuss the potentials and pitfalls of open question in online surveys to research everyday knowledge.