How does the intersection of sex and nonbinary gender identity affect hiring discrimination? Evidence from a correspondence field experiment

This repository stores current files associated with the forthcoming AEA P&P paper by Taryn Eames, a PhD Candidate in economics at U of T.

Abstract: This study examines the intersection of sex and nonbinary gender identity in hiring discrimination using a resume audit study, where sex was signaled via first name and nonbinary identity via “they/them” pronoun disclosure. Results show male and female nonbinary applicants face similar discrimination levels, with patterns in sex-based discrimination resembling those of cisgender applicants with the same implied sex: female-named applicants are penalized in male-dominated occupations and vice versa. Applicants with intersecting minoritized identities—being both the non-dominant sex and disclosing nonbinary pronouns—face heightened discrimination. These findings highlight the importance of considering intersecting identities in understanding labor market disparities.

Acknowledgements: This study could not have been completed without tireless research assistance from Siu Lun Cheong, Hanru He, YuHui Li, Minh Thuy Phi, and Sarah Zahir. I thank Patrick Button, David Price, and Philip Oreopoulos for invaluable suggestions and feedback throughout the study.