Clotilde Coron recently published her book “Lesbiennes au travail: sortir de l’invisibilité” at EMS.
Abstract: This book examines the occupational experiences of lesbian women, a population that remains largely invisible in academic literature and public debate. Drawing on an intersectional framework, it highlights the specificity of lesbian trajectories, which cannot be understood as the mere addition of inequalities related to gender and sexual orientation.
Building on original empirical material combining representative statistical data and qualitative interviews drawn from an ANR-funded project, the book investigates the personal and professional pathways of lesbian employees, in which the question of sexual orientation disclosure occupies a central place. The data reveal a paradox: while lesbian women are particularly exposed to discrimination and physical, psychological, and sexual violence, they simultaneously appear less penalized than heterosexual women in terms of career progression and remuneration, and report higher overall levels of job satisfaction and satisfaction with collegial relationships. This paradox invites a rethinking of the underlying mechanisms of gender-based inequalities, foregrounding the specificity of lesbian women’s experiences as shaped by their position outside traditional gender relations.
By bringing together quantitative analyses and life-history narratives, this book offers an original contribution to the understanding of the intersections between gender, sexuality, and work, and argues for genuine recognition of the diversity of women’s experiences in the professional sphere.
For more information: [Link]