Women in the Workplace: Lesbian and Bisexual Women

Every year, Lean In and McKinsey & Co. conduct Women in the Workplace, the largest study on the state of women in corporate America. Our data make it clear that there is no single story of women at work. Read on to learn more about the distinct biases and barriers lesbian and bisexual women face.

Lesbian and bisexual women face distinct biases and barriers in corporate America.

Since 2016, Lean In and McKinsey & Company have conducted Women in the Workplace, the largest study on the state of women in corporate America. Each year, the findings clearly show that there is no single story of women at work. To better capture the diversity of women's experiences, our 2021 report includes data-driven narratives that highlight the experiences of lesbian and bisexual women, Asian women, Black women, Latinas, and women with disabilities.

Lesbian and bisexual women often face disrespect in their workplaces. They are more likely than women overall to experience biased and undermining behavior, including being interrupted or spoken over, having their judgment questioned, and being expected to speak on behalf of all people with their identity. Additionally, although they are about as likely as women overall to receive positive feedback on their job performance, they are more likely to hear negative feedback related to how they present themselves at work, such as being told that they are too outspoken and confrontational.

Gender bias and bias based on sexual orientation can compound, meaning lesbian and bisexual women often face greater barriers than either straight women or gay men.

The narrative is based on data from Lean In and McKinsey & Company's 2021 Women in the Workplace study. While it sheds light on some of the distinct experiences of lesbian and bisexual women, it is by no means comprehensive. Women face multiple biases due to many aspects of their identity. Lesbian and bisexual women refers to women who self-identify as bisexual, pansexual, gay, lesbian, or homosexual.