Department of Economics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV. E-mail: jeffrey.waddoups@unlv.edu
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Previous Marriage and the Lesbian Wage Premium
Article first published online: 11 MAY 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-232X.2009.00567.x
© 2009 Regents of the University of California
Issue
Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society
Volume 48, Issue 3, pages 432–453, July 2009
Additional Information
How to Cite
DANESHVARY, N., JEFFREY WADDOUPS, C. and WIMMER, B. S. (2009), Previous Marriage and the Lesbian Wage Premium. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 48: 432–453. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-232X.2009.00567.x
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Department of Economics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV. E-mail: jeffrey.waddoups@unlv.edu
Publication History
- Issue published online: 11 MAY 2009
- Article first published online: 11 MAY 2009
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
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.