Access to the labour market for gays and lesbians: Research review

Abstract

This article reviews findings of scientific studies looking into the bias that gay men and lesbians face when accessing the labor market. Studies in this topic were scarce before year 2000, but a considerable body of literature appeared in the Western countries in the recent years. When summed up, the findings provide robust evidence that lesbians and gay men face negative bias when accessing employment. The magnitude of the bias varies considerably across contexts. Different labor market outcomes of gay men and lesbians are also partially caused by differences in household specialization between different-sex and same-sex households. Future research needs to address the contextual differences in bias against gay men and lesbians.

How does being out at work relate to discrimination and unemployment of gays and lesbians?

“…For gays, this is in line with previous research which showed that homosexuality forms a barrier in their access to employment (Fric 2017). However, the literature is inconclusive for lesbians, providing some evidence that-despite being discriminated in accessing employment-lesbians are more probable to be employed compared to heterosexual women (Fric 2017). My findings suggest that workplace discrimination has qualitatively the same impact on lesbians as it has on gays when it comes to the link with unemployment.…”

“…The relationship between perceived discrimination and being unemployed is positive and significant for both gays and lesbians. For gays, this is in line with previous research which showed that homosexuality forms a barrier in their access to employment (Fric 2017). However, the literature is inconclusive for lesbians, providing some evidence that-despite being discriminated in accessing employment-lesbians are more probable to be employed compared to heterosexual women (Fric 2017).…”

“…I concentrate on factors related to (the experience of ) discrimination. For a more thorough theoretical overview see Fric (2017). Bell et al (2013) postulate that stigmatised individuals can be disadvantaged in access to employment or in treatment (compensation, promotion, harassment, etc.).…”

“…It is important to control for sex because of different challenges that gays and lesbians face in the labour market. While there is relatively consistent evidence that gays are disadvantaged compared to heterosexual men, the position of lesbians compared to heterosexual women seems to be more questionable (Drydakis 2014;Fric 2017). The reason may be that public attitudes towards gays are less positive than towards lesbians, especially in heterosexual men (see for example the meta-analysis by Kite and Whitley 1996).…”

“…There is extensive evidence that gays and lesbians face discrimination in the workplace (Eurofound 2016; Valfort 2017). Research review by Fric (2017) indicates that gay people 1 face barriers when accessing employment. Recent surveys among gays and lesbians in Europe show that a considerable amount of respondents experienced discrimination or harassment in the workplace (Eurofound 2016).…”