In a new study published in Industrial Relations, Lisa K. Jepsen of the The University of Northern Iowa takes a step towards determining if homosexual employees are compensated differently by comparing their earnings with those of heterosexuals in similar living situations.
Using data from the 2000 Census, Jepsen compares the earnings of cohabiting lesbians to those of cohabiting, but unmarried, and married heterosexual women. While previous studies on wage differences between lesbians and heterosexual women have been based on very small samples of homosexuals, this new study includes data for over 14,000 women.
Jepsen finds that the average earnings of cohabiting lesbians are higher than those of both cohabiting and married heterosexual women. On average, lesbians who cohabit earn 10 percent more than married women. Previous research has shown that women without children earn more than those with children, and lesbians, in general, are less likely to have children than heterosexual women. However, cohabiting lesbians still earn more than other cohabiting women, even when parenthood is factored-out as a possible cause of the wage discrepancy.
Some research has found that men with stay-at-home wives earn more than men with wives that work, but Jepsen's study does not find that this is true of lesbian couples. Having a partner who specializes in household services does not explain the higher earnings found for lesbians.
“My results also suggest that lesbians may fare better in the labor market than gay males, whom most studies find to earn less than comparable heterosexual men,” says Jepsen, but remarks that despite these positive findings, “discrimination may be present in other ways that need to be investigated, such as in the hiring process.”-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
