(I Can’t Get No) Job Satisfaction? Differences by Sexual Orientation in Sweden

Mats Hammarstedt (), Lina Aldén and Hanna Swahnberg
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Hanna Swahnberg: Linnaeus University Centre for Discrimination and Integration Studies, Postal: Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden

No 1241, Working Paper Series from Research Institute of Industrial Economics

Abstract: We present results from a unique nationwide survey conducted in Sweden on sexual orientation and job satisfaction. Our results show that gay men, on average, seem more satisfied with their job than heterosexual men; lesbians appear less satisfied with their job than heterosexual women. However, the issue of sexual orientation and job satisfaction is complex since gay men, despite their high degree of job satisfaction, like lesbians find their job more mentally straining than heterosexuals. We conclude that gay men and lesbians are facing other stressers at work than heterosexuals do. We also conclude that discrimination and prejudice may lead gay men to have low expectations about their job; these low expectations may translate into high job satisfaction. In contrast, prejudice and discrimination may hinder lesbians from realizing their career plans, resulting in low job satisfaction.

Keywords: Job satisfaction; Sexual orientation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J15 J28 J71 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 37 pages
Date: 2018-10-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gen, nep-hrm and nep-lma
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:1241

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