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Do schools discriminate against homosexual parents? Evidence from a randomized correspondence experiment

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  • Diaz-Serrano, Luis
  • Meix-Llop, Enric

Abstract

The recognition of homosexual rights is a controversial issue in many countries. Spain was the third country in the world (after the Netherlands and Belgium) to introduce a law recognizing homosexual marriage and the adoption of children by homosexual couples. In this paper, we examine for the first time whether schools are more hesitant about giving feedback to homosexual parents during children's pre-registration period in Catalonia (Spain). To do so, we designed a correspondence experiment to be conducted in schools. We created three types of fictitious couples—one heterosexual, one gay, and one lesbian—and sent emails to schools in which the couples’ sexual orientation was explicit. Our results show that gay couples had a significantly lower (22 percentage points) call-back probability than heterosexual couples. No statistically significant differences in call-back probability were found between the lesbian and heterosexual couples.

Suggested Citation

  • Diaz-Serrano, Luis & Meix-Llop, Enric, 2016. "Do schools discriminate against homosexual parents? Evidence from a randomized correspondence experiment," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 133-142.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:53:y:2016:i:c:p:133-142
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2016.06.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed, Ali & Hammarstedt, Mats & Karlsson, Karl, 2020. "Do Swedish schools discriminate against children with disabilities?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 529, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Goldberg, Abbie E. & McCormick, Nora & Frost, Reihonna & Moyer, April, 2021. "Reconciling realities, adapting expectations, and reframing “success”: Adoptive parents respond to their children’s academic interests, challenges, and achievement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    3. Martinez de Lafuente, David, 2021. "Cultural Assimilation and Ethnic Discrimination: An Audit Study with Schools," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    4. Cantet, Natalia & Feld, Brian & Hernández, Mónica, 2024. "Is there discrimination against children of same-sex households? Evidence from an experimental study in Colombia," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    5. Luis Diaz-Serrano & Sabine Flamand, 2023. "Attitudes towards single parents’ children in private and state-dependent private schools: experimental evidence," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 14(2), pages 223-242, June.
    6. Díaz Serrano, Lluís & Flamand, Sabine, 2020. "Do schools discriminate against single parents? Evidence from a randomized correspondence experiment," Working Papers 2072/376036, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Economics.
    7. Diaz-Serrano, Luis & Flamand, Sabine, 2020. "Schools' Attitudes Towards Single Parents: Experimental Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 13699, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Discrimination; Correspondence field experiment; Schools; Homosexual rights; Homosexual parents;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • K36 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Family and Personal Law

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