Family Structure and Hiring Discrimination: A Correspondence Study of Same-Sex Couples in Spain

• In Event: Sociology of Sexualities Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 4: Sexuality, Labor, and Work

Abstract

This study investigates employers’ responses to job applications submitted by candidates in same-sex and different-sex relationships. Although Spain is widely regarded as a progressive country in terms of LGBTI rights, prejudice—particularly toward same-sex parents—persists. We implement a correspondence experiment involving 2,200 fictitious applications to evaluate differential callback rates and types of employer responses, distinguishing between any response, positive responses, and rejections.
Preliminary findings (with fieldwork still underway) indicate discrimination against male same-sex couples without children. In contrast, male same-sex couples with children receive responses more similar to those obtained by different-sex couples with children. These early results tentatively suggest that parenthood may attenuate discriminatory behaviour, although conclusions remain provisional. Future research will broaden the analysis through a complementary audit study in the housing market, the application of text mining and artificial intelligence techniques to employer responses, and an examination of potential intersectional patterns of disadvantage.

Authors

• Héctor Cebolla Boado, IEGD, Spanish Research Council

• Álvaro Suárez Vergne, IEGD. Spanish Research Council

• Mariña Fernandez-Reino, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society

• Isabel Lázaro, UNED