Previous Marriage and the Lesbian Wage Premium

Abstract

This paper provides insight into the wage gap between partnered lesbians and other groups of women. Using data from the 2000 Decennial Census, we find that wages of never-married lesbians are significantly higher than wages of previously married lesbians and other groups of women. Results indicate that controlling for previous marriage reduces the estimated lesbian wage premium by approximately 20 percent. Our research also reveals that wage patterns of previously married lesbians mirror those of cohabiting heterosexual women. Overall, our results are consistent with the notion that the lesbian wage premium is driven, in part, by differences in the labor-market commitment of lesbians and heterosexual women.

The Homosexual Lifestyle: Time Use in Same-Sex Households

“…3 Even though recent work suggests that these differentials are getting smaller for gay men [Cushing-Daniels and Yeung (2009); Clarke and Sevak (2013); Carpenter (2007)], this may be the result of the expansion of protection from discrimination for gay men and lesbians [Klawitter (2011); Martell (2013bMartell ( , 2014]. Explanations of varying patterns in household labor explaining the earnings effects of sexual orientation have risen in prominence [see, for example Black et al (2007) and Daneshvary et al (2009)], because evidence in favor of alternatives explanations has been inconclusive. 4 There are several potential sources for differences in labor market attachment by sexual orientation.…”

The Sexual Orientation Wage Gap for Racial Minorities

“…Married women, on the other hand, do not tend to show the same wage advantage (Korenman and Neumark ). Further, the wages of previously heterosexual married lesbians have been shown to be more similar to cohabiting heterosexual women than to married heterosexual women, perhaps also indicating differences in the labor‐market commitment between groups (Daneshvary, Waddoups, and Wimmer ). As rates of marriage vary by race (Carpenter and Gates ; Gates and Ost ), our analysis will separately compare married and unmarried heterosexuals to workers with a same‐sex partner…”

Multilevel analysis of the effects of antidiscrimination policies on earnings by sexual orientation

“…34 Lesbians in the private sector worked about four more weeks per year and seven more hours per week, on average, than did married women in the labor force. advantage for lesbians relative to married women has been explored by a number of authors (Daneshvary, Waddoups, & Wimmer, 2009;Antecol, Steinberger, & Jong, 2008;Jepsen, 2007). These studies find that differences in educational levels and location contribute to higher average earnings for lesbians, but little evidence of differential returns for these or for child rearing compared to married women.…”

“…2 For a recent summary of studies seeBadgett et al (2007). More recent studies includeAntecol, Steinberger, and Jong (2008),Jepsen (2007), andDaneshvary, Waddoups, and Wimmer (2009).…”