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Gender Typicality and Sexual Minority Labor Market Differentials

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  • Ian Burn
  • Michael E. Martell

Abstract

Sexual minorities experience significant differences in labor market outcomes relative to comparable heterosexuals, with larger differences in earnings than in labor supply. A common explanation of these differences is that they may reflect unobserved differences inmasculinity and femininity in the sexual minority population. We leverage data on personality and behaviors in the National Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (AddHealth) to test whether controlling for differences in masculinity and femininity through quantitative measures of gender typicality eliminates labor market differentials. While we find evidence that gender typicality does affect labor market outcomes of men and women on average, we find no evidence of a differential effect for gays and lesbians. Controlling for these factors does not affect sexual orientation labor market differentials, suggesting that existing estimates of earnings differentials are not affected by omitted variable bias due to not controlling for gender typicality.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Burn & Michael E. Martell, 2020. "Gender Typicality and Sexual Minority Labor Market Differentials," Working Papers 202018, University of Liverpool, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:liv:livedp:202018
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    2. Compton, Olivia, 2024. "A Transgender and Gender Diverse Critique of LGBTQ+ Economics," MPRA Paper 122465, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 16 Oct 2024.
    3. Michael E. Martell & Leanne Roncolato, 2023. "Economic Vulnerability of Sexual Minorities: Evidence from the US Household Pulse Survey," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(2), pages 1-74, April.

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