Health and Labor Market Discrimination: The Stigma and Status Consequences for Those with Visible Neurological Disorders

• In Event: 322 - Section on Medical Sociology Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 17. Sexual Health

Abstract

This project expands the research on how health disorders create income disparities by examining the extent to which interactional mechanisms related to stigmatization and status loss affect the salaries and workplace experiences of those with visible neurological disorders. Do those with visible neurological disorders experience labor market discrimination due to their health label and not due to variation in human capital? Do they experience this discrimination only at the point of hire or might any salary deficits they face at the start of their employment go away over time? An analysis of the Health and Retirement Study (1996-2010) reveals that the salaries of those with visible neurological disorders are about 20% lower than those who have any other type of ailment, controlling for the effects human capital, health, and job characteristics. Those with these disorders also report higher levels of workplace stigmatization and discrimination, such as having to work twice as hard for the same level of recognition, being ignored by their bosses, and being treated as though they are ‘dumb.’ None of these effects lessen with job tenure, which suggests continuous labor and interpersonal discrimination throughout the course of their career post-onset, as opposed to simply statistical discrimination whose initial effects should lessen over time as employers discover the real capabilities of their workers.

Authors

• Sarah K. Harkness, University of Iowa

• Kevin T. Leicht, University of Iowa