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Pride, but Is There Job Satisfaction for LGB Workers? Survey Based Evidence from the United States

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Abstract

In recent years there have been significant victories for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) persons in the United States. These victories include legalizing same-sex marriage and increasing visibility and acceptance in popular media. However, legal rights and increased representation do not always translate to day-to-day lives and working conditions. While scholars have examined many aspects of the lives of LGB individuals, few studies have explored job satisfaction, a critical component of quality of life. This study addresses this limitation by exploring this vital relationship using nationally representative data. Using data from Wave 5 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health, this study examined job satisfaction for LGB persons. Controlling for demographic and workplace contextual factors, LGB workers had lower levels of job satisfaction than their heterosexual counterparts. The results of the study suggest the implementation of policies and practices to ensure greater levels of job satisfaction for LGB workers.

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Funding

This research uses data from Add Health, funded by grant P01 HD31921 (Harris) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), with cooperative funding from 23 other federal agencies and foundations. Add Health is currently directed by Robert A. Hummer and funded by the National Institute on Aging cooperative agreements U01 AG071448 (Hummer) and U01AG071450 (Aiello and Hummer) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Add Health was designed by J. Richard Udry, Peter S. Bearman, and Kathleen Mullan Harris at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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  1. Department of Justice Studies, Montclair State University, 347 Dickson Hall, One Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA

    Christopher Salvatore

  2. Fors Marsh, Arlington, VA, 22203, USA

    Travis A. Taniguchi

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  1. Christopher Salvatore
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  2. Travis A. Taniguchi
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Correspondence to Christopher Salvatore.

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Salvatore, C., Taniguchi, T.A. Pride, but Is There Job Satisfaction for LGB Workers? Survey Based Evidence from the United States. Sexuality & Culture 28, 1021–1036 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-023-10161-4

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