Lisa Jepsen speaks about the economics of sexual orientation

On Monday, Feb. 7 University of Northern Iowa students, faculty members and community members gathered for the Current Research on Women Forum in the Center for Multicultural Education to hear Lisa Jepsen, associate professor of economics, present "The Economics of Sexual Orientation."

    In Jepsen's presentation, which was sponsored by the Women's and Gender Studies Program and the UNI Freethinkers and Inquirers, she discussed sexual orientation coming from an economic point of view, explaining her research by sharing the data and information she found while breaking the different stereotypes people have when discussing both sexual orientation and economics.  One of those stereotypes she explored was how gays earn 10 to 30 percent less than heterosexual men and that lesbians earn 10 to 35 percent more than heterosexual women. 

    "Gay men are found to be less threatening and lesbians are found to be more threatening in the business world," said Jepsen.

    One of the main points that Jepsen highlighted towards the end of her presentation was a census snapshot of same-sex couples and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of Iowa that was done by the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles Law School. The study showed that from an economic point of view in Iowa, same-sex couples are demographically and geographically diverse, individuals in same-sex couples are actively engaged in the state economy, same-sex couples have fewer economic resources than married couples, same-sex partners depend on one another in ways that are similar to that of married couples and same sex-couples are raising children in Iowa.

    "The presentation was really interesting and it was good to hear facts backed up by numbers," said Kayla Lauridsen, a freshman elementary education major.

    "The purpose of the CROW Forum is for faculty to present current information on women's and gender studies, and the forum allows the campus and the broader community to hear the latest research on women's studies," said Phyllis Baker, director and professor of women's and gender studies.  "Jepsen's presentation was a nice overview on a topic aimed at a broad audience." 

    "Darwin was about questioning dogma and questioning conventional wisdom of the day, and what Dr. Jepsen had to say in her presentation allows people to question and to think," said Trevor Boeckmann, senior economics major and UNIFI president.

The next CROW Forum will be held March 7 in the CME. Kevin Leicht of the University of Iowa will be presenting on "Economic Development and Women's Life Chances."  

"His presentation will be a cross-national research looking at the relationship between men's economic inequality a women's status," explained Baker.