title: Discrimination versus specialization: a survey of economic studies on sexual orientation, gender and earnings in the United States.
abstract: Several studies examine the link between sexual orientation and earnings using large data sets that distinguish sexual orientation through questions about sexual behavior and/or by allowing respondents to self-identify as part of a same-sex cohabitating couple. After controlling for other earnings-related characteristics these studies generally show an earnings penalty for gay/bisexual men relative to heterosexual men and an earnings premium for lesbian/bisexual women relative to heterosexual women. Explanations for this gender disparity include gender differences in sexual orientation discrimination, greater labor force attachment for lesbian/bisexual women, and the effects of the overall gender earnings gap.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126, USA. edunne@oswego.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth Dunne
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Schmitt
mesh_terms: D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011287:Prejudice; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012938:Social Perception; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data