Introducing The GEPI Data Dashboard
Gender Equity Policy Institute is pleased to announce the release of The GEPI Data Dashboard, a free, interactive resource providing visualizations of demographic and economic data across California.1
Researchers, policymakers, and advocates depend on accessible, reliable data to design initiatives, measure their effectiveness, and make the case for change. The GEPI Data Dashboard reflects the Institute’s conviction that rigorous data collection and its broad dissemination are important tools for governance that benefits everyone.
The inaugural release features four California data sets drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau and includes county-level data.
California Dashboards
- Rental affordability data quantifying how many Californians across different demographic groups lack access to affordable housing
- Energy affordability data examining how utility costs affect different demographic groups
- Gender gaps in jobs and pay tracking where women remain concentrated in lower-wage roles and underrepresented in positions of authority
- Population data mapping where men and women live across the state, providing a baseline for measuring program reach and policy impact
Below you will find an FAQ. It includes: information on data sources; how to use the dashboard; examples of questions the dashboards allow you to explore; how to use the dashboard; how to download data and visuals for your own use; and troubleshooting tips.
Stay tuned for additional dashboards covering both state and national populations. If you’d like to be notified when new dashboards go live, sign up here. If you have additional questions, you can email them to us at: [email protected]
What is the GEPI Data Dashboard?
The GEPI Data Dashboard includes interactive dashboards presenting social and demographic data across a number of timely topics, ranging from housing affordability to employment, all broken down by gender, race and ethnicity, and other characteristics. Currently, the tool includes data on the state of California and its counties to enable users to easily explore key data on the lives of Californians. Future interactive dashboards will include data for the U.S. and other states.
With the topical dashboards, you can answer questions like: Are California women more likely than men to live in unaffordable rental housing? Where are gender pay gaps highest or lowest? Who is facing home energy costs that are too high?
What is the source of the data?
Dashboard data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS).
What information is included?
With an easy-to-navigate interface, users can filter, sort, and display gender disaggregated data. By applying interactive filters, results can be tailored to highlight and compare results for different groups of women and men, often within or between counties. Unless otherwise indicated, the data refers to adults age 18 and older.
Filters allow you to customize the data displayed in each dashboard. Commonly available filters include:
- Gender
- Race/Ethnicity
- Age
- Income
- Geography by state and counties
You can find filters in the left-hand menu on most dashboards. To use a filter, hover over the filter menu, click the drop-down menu, and select a category. The visualizations will update automatically.
How do I know if the difference between groups is significant?
All dashboards report statistically significant differences—meaning the difference between groups is unlikely to be due to chance. Look for pop-up indicators when you hover over a data point. (These indicators are based on a 95% confidence level.) In the pop-ups, you may see:
- Yes: the difference is statistically significant
- No: the difference is not statistically significant
- N/A (not applicable): the comparison cannot be evaluated, often because the sample size is too small or the comparison does not apply for that data point.
Can I save a visualization for my own use?
Yes. You can download charts and dashboards directly from Tableau. Click the Download icon in the top-right or bottom-right corner of the dashboard. Then select your desired format.
- “Image” downloads the visualization as a PNG file.
- “PDF” downloads the entire dashboard or specific charts. Select This View for the full dashboard or Specific Sheets from this Dashboard to choose individual charts or tables.
- “PowerPoint” downloads the visualization as a slide deck. You can also choose This View or Specific Sheets.
After selecting your options, click Download to save the file. When citing our dashboards, look for the recommended citation in the footer of each dashboard.
Can I download and save the data?
You can also download the data displayed in a chart directly from the dashboard.
- Click on the chart from which you want to download data
- Click the Download icon located in the top-right or bottom-right corner of the dashboard.
- From the drop-down menu, select Data.
- Click Download in the top-right corner of the window.
This will download the data used in the selected visualization. To cite our dashboards, you can find the recommended citation in each dashboard’s footer.
How is race/ethnicity defined?
Race/ethnicity categories are based on those used in the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), on which people self-identify their race or ethnicity. These ACS categories include: American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; and White. Separately, the ACS asks people whether they identify as Hispanic. All people who identify as Hispanic or Latino are categorized as Latino. “Multiracial” includes individuals who reported two or more races. “Other race” includes people who selected another race category not listed above and did not identify as Hispanic or Latino.
Troubleshooting
Why is the dashboard not showing the selected data?
If the dashboard shows blank space or no value, it means that data isn’t available for the selected category. To ensure accuracy, GEPI does not report estimates when the sample size is too small to produce a reliable estimate.
Why isn’t the dashboard displaying correctly on my screen?
This may be due to differences between the dashboard layout size and your screen size. Tableau dashboards are often designed with a fixed layout, which means they do not always automatically adjust to different screen resolutions or device sizes. As a result, you may need to scroll up and down or side to side to view all parts of the dashboard.
For the best viewing experience, we recommend the following:
- Make sure your browser window (such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Safari) is fully expanded to the size of your screen.
- Click the “View in Full Screen” icon located in the bottom-right corner of the dashboard to display the dashboard across your entire screen.
- If needed, adjust your browser zoom level to better fit the dashboard on your screen. For example, reducing zoom (such as to around 90%) may help display the full dashboard without additional scrolling.
Contact Information
For any additional questions, feel free to email GEPI at [email protected]
For media inquiries: [email protected] | [email protected]
About Gender Equity Policy Institute
Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating gender equality in the United States through data-driven applied research, strategic advocacy, and policy development. Our mission is to rebalance systems, guarantee equal benefits and opportunities, and secure a just and sustainable future for all people.
