Fig 1.
STEM degree and STEM occupation gaps between individuals in same-sex couples and different-sex couples (ACS 2009–2018).
Panel A. STEM degree. Panel B. STEM occupation. The number above each bar is the gap between the share of male/female graduates/workers in same-sex couples vs. in different-sex couples in STEM degrees/occupations. Weighed statistics using person weights. See also Data and Methodology, as well as Table 1. All variables are defined in detail in the SI. Source: ACS 2009–2018. * p < 0.10, ** p < 0.05, *** p < 0.01.
Fig 2.
STEM occupation gaps by sexual orientation (NHIS 2013–2018).
The number above each bar is the gap with respect to the share of straight male/female workers in STEM occupations. Weighed statistics using person weights and accounting for survey design. See also Data and Methodology, as well as Table 2. All variables are defined in detail in the SI. Source: NHIS 2013–2018. * p < 0.10, ** p < 0.05, *** p < 0.01.
Table 1.
Men (but not women) in same-sex couples are significantly less likely to have STEM degrees and work in STEM occupations than those in different-sex couples (ACS 2009–2018).
Table 2.
Gay men are significantly less likely to be in STEM occupations than heterosexual men (NHIS 2013–2018).
Table 3.
STEM degree and STEM occupation gaps for gay men compared to heterosexual men are robust to controlling for demographic characteristics, fertility, and location.
Table 4.
STEM occupation gaps are larger when focusing on individuals with STEM degrees.
Fig 3.
There is a positive association between share of coupled men in same-sex couples and share women in STEM degrees and STEM occupations (ACS 2009–2018).
Panel A. STEM degrees. Panel B. STEM occupations. The vertical axis measures the share of men in same-sex couples over all coupled men in each field/occupation. Overall, 1.24% of men in a couple are in a same-sex couple. The horizontal axis measures the share of women (of any marital status and relation to the household head, age 18–65, sex not imputed) over all individuals in each field/occupation. Weighed shares using person weights. See also Data and Methodology. Only STEM fields/occupations reported. The dashed line plots the linear fit. Source: ACS 2009–2018.