Date of Award
1998
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education
First Advisor
Bruce R. Swinburne
Abstract
Federal law does not prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. As is the case for other professionals, an educator who is a gay male or lesbian has had no protection from this form of discrimination unless it is specifically prohibited by a state or local law, or an institutional policy. Because they have been legally prohibited from marrying, domestic partners of gay and lesbian educators have not been entitled to share the employment benefits of their partners. This study examined opinions of faculty in four-year colleges and universities in Arkansas regarding employment discrimination based on sexual orientation in institutions of higher education. A survey was used to gather data which were examined in regard to faculty opinions concerning: (1) the establishment of institutional policies which prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation and (2) the extension of employment benefits to same-sex domestic partners of gay and lesbian employees of institutions of higher education. Results indicated that a majority of respondents favored the establishment of these anti-discrimination policies. Although a majority indicated approval of policies which would offer employment benefits to same-sex domestic partners, chi square analyses revealed that respondents were significantly more likely to favor providing employment benefits to heterosexual spouses than to same-sex domestic partners. Respondents' written comments indicated that they were more likely to support the extension of employment benefits to same-sex domestic partners if the couple had a contractual agreement which was legally binding. It was recommended that the study be expanded by research which includes demographic and qualitative subject data; replicated in two-year institutions and in other states or regions of the country; and used as part of institutional policy development.
Recommended Citation
Christie, Catherine Ann, "Employment Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation in Institutions of Higher Education: A Survey of Faculty Opinions" (1998). Theses and Dissertations. 78.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/78
