Understanding labor market discrimination against transgender people: Evidence from a double list experiment and a survey

Abstract

Using a double list experiment designed to elicit views free from social desirability bias, we find that support in the United States for transgender people in the labor market is significantly overreported by 8 to 10 percent. After correcting for this overreporting, we still find that over twothirds of respondents would be comfortable with a transgender manager and support employment non-discrimination protection for transgender people. However, respondents severely underestimate this level of support. We also show that stated labor market support for transgender people is lower than support for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. Our results advance our understanding of employment discrimination against transgender people.