The role of work values and characteristics in the human capital investment of gays and lesbians. Issue 4 (3rd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burn, Ian; Martell, Michael E.
• Is Part Of: Education economics. Volume 28:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 351
• Page End: 369
• Publication Date: 2020-07-03
• Subjects: Human capital -- college major -- sexual orientation -- discrimination; J1 -- I21 -- I23; Education -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; 338.4737
• DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2020.1758039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-5292

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We show that educational outcomes of sexual minorities are consistent with efforts to mediate future discrimination. Gay men and lesbians obtain more years of schooling than heterosexual men and women, between 0.6 and 1.2 years. This difference is robust to controlling for observable characteristics for men but not women. Gay men and lesbian women also complete different college majors. Gay men are more likely to choose majors with lower levels of prejudice, higher levels of workplace independence, and occupations that emphasize relationships even though they pay less. Similarly, lesbian women choose majors with less prejudice and more workplace independence.