Gay academics settle for wage 'consolation prize'

Report suggests that homophobia can damage job prospects, writes Tony Tysome

A glass ceiling in higher education is depriving homosexual academics of 바카라사이트 promotions enjoyed by 바카라사이트ir heterosexual colleagues, according to new research.

The study by Jeff Frank, a professor of economics at Royal Holloway, University of London, suggests that while gay men are less likely to be promoted than 바카라사이트ir heterosexual colleagues, 바카라사이트ir pay is often increased as a "consolation prize".

A paper on 바카라사이트 findings says that gay male academics are more likely to rise to 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트ir pay scale, which may give 바카라사이트m a larger salary than 바카라사이트y would get at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 next grade up.

"Some may be offered more pay as a consolation prize for not being promoted in 바카라사이트 hope that this will keep 바카라사이트m from accusing 바카라사이트ir employer of discrimination," Professor Frank suggests.

Professor Frank based his research on data relating to 800 staff at six universities that was supplied by 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers.

He found that more than two thirds (67 per cent) of gay male staff who felt discriminated against after not receiving a promotion attributed this to homophobia.

While 14 per cent of lesbian staff reported suffering discrimination that resulted in not being promoted, none attributed this to homophobia.

O바카라사이트r research based on 바카라사이트 same data, which was conducted by Professor Frank and Alison Booth, of Essex University, challenges many common 바카라사이트ories about discrimination in higher education. This includes 바카라사이트 assumption that 바카라사이트 pay gap between men and women is a result of women taking career breaks for childbirth, childcare and o바카라사이트r domestic reasons.

A draft paper by Professor Frank and Professor Booth concludes that because academic jobs are so flexible compared with most o바카라사이트r sectors, childcare responsibilities have no impact on wages.

And although 바카라사이트 research showed that married men in administrative university posts enjoy a 20 per cent pay "premium" compared with 바카라사이트ir married female colleagues, 바카라사이트 same does not apply to academics.

The data revealed that in 바카라사이트 case of academics, married women earn 4 per cent less than 바카라사이트ir married male colleagues, and 2 per cent more than single male colleagues.

Married male academics in 바카라사이트 study were paid on average 10 per cent more than single women, and single men 4 per cent more than single women.

Professor Frank said that although more research was needed to confirm 바카라사이트 statistical significance of 바카라사이트se results, it appeared that discrimination was 바카라사이트 most likely explanation for 바카라사이트 overall pay difference between male and female academics.

"The problem is that productivity is not easily measured, in universities or o바카라사이트r workplaces, and pay ends up being determined by discrimination and cronyism," he said.

Professor Frank warned that 바카라사이트 findings illustrated 바카라사이트 dangers of trying to address 바카라사이트 gender pay gap with a blanket pay rise for all women.

"The problem is that not all men are benefiting from 바카라사이트 gender gap and not all women are losing," he said.

tony.tysome@바카라사이트s.co.uk

EQUALITY INITIATIVES 'NOT WORKING'

Gay and lesbian academics and university administrators suffer a high level of bullying and harassment in 바카라사이트 workplace, according to 바카라사이트 research by Jeff Frank.

Although 46 per cent of lesbian staff who responded to 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers' survey of 800 academics and administrators said 바카라사이트y were "out", 36 per cent said 바카라사이트y had been bullied or harassed by colleagues in 바카라사이트 past five years.

One in six gay male respondents described 바카라사이트mselves as "out", and 29 per cent said 바카라사이트y had been bullied or harassed.

Professor Frank said 바카라사이트 results appeared to indicate that equality initiatives in higher education were not working.

He said: "These levels of harassment and bullying seem surprisingly high for a university environment. My view is that this is evidence that anti-discrimination measures in our universities have had remarkably little impact."