States' Economic and Cultural Context and the Employment of Men in Same-Sex Relationships in Gendered Occupations

• In Event: Student Forum Roundtables Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Roundtable 5: Gender and Work

Abstract

This study examined the occupational segregation of men in same-sex relationships (SSRs) in
gender-typed occupations in the United States, considering states' labor market and cultural
contexts as moderating factors. It used a dataset with individual-level data from the American
Community Survey for 2021-2022, state-level data on tolerance towards sexual minorities
from the American National Election Studies Surveys of 2016 and 2020, and state-level data
on local demand for labor from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The results showed SSR
men are more likely to work in female-dominated occupations and less likely to work in
male-dominated occupations. However, positive state-level attitudes towards sexual
minorities decrease the likelihood of SSR men being employed in female-dominated
occupations. Unexpectedly, while low demand for labor at the state level significantly
increases the likelihood of men in different-sex relationships being employed in female
dominated occupations, it slightly decreases the likelihood of SSR men. Labor demand is a
moderating factor in the broader gender segregation context, but it may not play a major role
in sexual orientation occupational segregation.

Author

• Daniel Fried, Tel-Aviv University