Working Paper: NBER ID: w30483
Authors: Billur Aksoy; Christopher S. Carpenter; Dario Sansone
Abstract: Using a US nationally representative sample and a double list experiment designed to elicit views free from social desirability bias, we find that anti-transgender labor market attitudes are significantly underreported. After correcting for this concealment, we report that 73 percent of people would be comfortable with a transgender manager and 74 percent support employment non-discrimination protection for transgender people. We also show that respondents severely underestimate the population level of support for transgender individuals in the workplace, and we find that labor market support for transgender people is significantly lower than support for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. Our results provide timely evidence on workplace-related views toward transgender people and help us better understand employment discrimination against them.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: J0
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| antitransgender labor market sentiment is significantly underreported due to social desirability bias (J79) | underreporting of labor market sentiment (E24) |
| correcting for social desirability bias (C83) | 73% of respondents express comfort with having a transgender manager (J16) |
| correcting for social desirability bias (C83) | 74% support employment nondiscrimination protection for transgender individuals (J78) |
| women, sexual minorities, and Democrats show significantly more positive views and support (J16) | attitudes toward transgender individuals (J79) |
| respondents severely underestimate the true level of support for transgender individuals in the workplace (J79) | 28% to 53% underestimation (C83) |