RESEARCH_FILE
Elizabeth M. Gerber
Northwestern University, McCormick School of Engineering
Known for:Research on gender gaps in self-set freelance pricing on online labor platforms
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“People don't think freelancing is a real job”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“The clients paying my invoices think it’s a real job. That’s the only audit that matters.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Open your invoices, contracts, or payment history and copy one exact paid project name, client label, or amount into a private notes file. Close it again without editing anything.
Key findings
- 2018
With Foong, Vincent, and Hecht, analyzes 48,019 U.S. freelancer profiles on a major platform and finds the median woman's self-set hourly rate is 74% of the median man's for comparable work. Women (Still) Ask For Less: Gender Differences in Hourly Rate in an Online Labor Marketplace ↗
- 2021
With Foong, finds that differences in stated pricing strategy do not explain the bill-rate gap between men and women freelancers — full-time freelancer status and self-esteem measures are stronger predictors than any conscious pricing tactic. Understanding Gender Differences in Pricing Strategies in Online Labor Marketplaces ↗