Systemic inequalities for LGBTQ professionals in STEM.
cross_sectional · Level IV
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 33523910.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abe0933 and PMC identifier 7810386.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
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Abstract
Researchers have documented race and gender inequality in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for decades. Do lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) professionals face parallel experiences of disadvantage in STEM? Using representative survey data from 21 STEM professional societies (<i>N</i> <sub>sample</sub> = 25,324; <i>N</i> <sub>LGBTQ</sub> = 1006), this paper presents multidimensional and methodologically robust documentation of 5 dimensions of LGBTQ inequality in STEM. Controlling for variation by demographic, discipline, and job factors, LGBTQ STEM professionals were more likely to experience career limitations, harassment, and professional devaluation than their non-LGBTQ peers. They also reported more frequent health difficulties and were more likely to intend to leave STEM. These trends were similar across STEM disciplines and employment sectors. We found no differences by LGBTQ status in education level, work effort, or job commitment. These findings reveal LGBTQ status as a clear axis of inequality in STEM and motivate further research into the mechanisms producing such outcomes.