Pronoun usage and gender identity's effects on market outcomes: Evidence from a preregistered field experiment

• Published in: Economics letters 2024-03, Vol.236, p.111584, Article 111584
• Main Author: Tomlin, Bryan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Discrimination; Field study; Housing; Pronouns
• ISSN: 0165-1765; 1873-7374
• DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2024.111584

•Pre-registered field experiment in the apartment rental market.•Tested effects of pronouns and transgender/cisgender identity on housing outcomes.•Disclosing preferred pronouns significantly reduced response rates.•Transgender and cisgender applicants disclosing pronouns had same response rates. A pre-registered field experiment was conducted to test of the effects that including one's preferred pronouns – and in doing so signaling whether one is cisgender or transgender – has on a landlord's decision to further pursue a rental inquiry. Focusing on small landlords seeking tenants for separate units located on their property (ADUs), the study finds that – relative to applicants who did not disclose their preferred pronouns – applicants who stated their preferred pronouns and whose pronouns signaled cisgender experienced a 17.0 % decrease in response rates while applicants whose pronouns signaled transgender experienced a 17.9 % decrease in response rates. These findings suggest a need for future study.