Gender Effects on Job Satisfaction in the House of Representatives

TLDR: This paper examined whether women and men differ in their levels of job satisfaction, the levels of benefits they derive from working in the House, and the relationship between specific benefits and job satisfaction.

Abstract: This paper examines whether congresswomen and congressmen differ in their levels of job satisfaction, the levels of benefits they derive from working in the House, and the relationship between specific benefits and job satisfaction. By relying on a survey of former members of Congress, the paper finds only modest gender differences in the level of job satisfaction and members' perceptions of obtaining specific benefits from the job, but significant gender differences in the sources of job satisfaction. Most specifically, congresswomen's job satisfaction was most greatly influenced by whether their families benefited from the job whereas family benefits had only a modest effect on men's job satisfaction. Conversely, congressmen's satisfaction was more strongly related to their perceptions of the financial benefits to House service than was congresswomen's satisfaction.