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

Abstract

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.