A study on intersectional discrimination in employment against disabled women in the UK

The present study examined the employment status of disabled and nondisabled men and women in the United Kingdom. Using the 2009-14 Life Opportunities Survey (N = 32,355 observations), the study empirically examined how the intersection of disability and gender affects disabled women and their employment status in the UK. Random effects multinomial and logistic regression models were used. Findings indicated that disabled women were significantly less likely to be employed and more likely to be economically inactive than disabled men, nondisabled women, and nondisabled men. They were also significantly the least likely to work full-time among the four groups. Disabled women were significantly less likely to be supervisors than disabled men and felt more limited in the type or amount of paid work they could do than nondisabled women. The present study provided empirical evidence to policymakers interested in developing policies that better address intersectional discrimination and enhance disabled women's employment status. Points of interest In 2016, one in five working-age (16-64) adults in the UK were disabled, and there were more disabled women (6.4 million) than disabled men (5.5 million). Disabled people are discriminated against in employment, and disabled women face further discrimination than disabled men. This research empirically examined the employment status of UK disabled and nondisabled men and women, and found that disabled women were significantly the most likely to be economically inactive, least likely to be employed, and least likely to work full-time among the four groups. Also, disabled women were significantly less likely to be supervisors than disabled men and felt more limited in the type or amount of paid work they could do than nondisabled women. Efforts to address the higher level of discrimination experienced by disabled women, compared to men and nondisabled women, and to improve their employment status, are needed.