Educational outcomes of gender-diverse youth: A national population-based study

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Authors
Wilkinson, Lindsey
Shifrer, Dara
Pearson, Jennifer D.
Advisors
Issue Date
2021-08-16
Type
Article
Keywords
Education , Gender , Trans
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Wilkinson, L., Shifrer, D., Pearson, J., 2021. Educational outcomes of gender-diverse youth: A national population-based study. Gender & Society 089124322110386. https://doi.org/10.1177/08912432211038689
Abstract

Despite the growing population of youth identifying with a transgender or nonbinary gender identity, research on gender-diverse individuals’ educational outcomes is limited. This study takes advantage of the first nationally representative, population-based data set that includes measures of gender identity and educational outcomes: the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009. Using minority stress and structural symbolic interactionist frameworks, we examine the association between gender identity and high school and college educational outcomes. We compare the educational outcomes of gender-diverse youth—binary transgender, nonbinary, and gender unsure—with those of cisgender youth, and also examine differences within the gender-diverse population. Given the strong link between minority stress and educational experiences among gender-diverse youth, we examine differences in outcomes before and after accounting for school belonging and emotional distress. We also account for individuals’ social-structural location, arguing that social positionality shapes both gender identity and educational outcomes. Results indicate important differences in educational outcomes within the gender-diverse population: Whereas binary transgender and gender-unsure youth exhibit educational disadvantage, relative to cisgender youth, nonbinary youth do not. The gender-unsure disadvantage remains even after accounting for differences in social-structural location and social-psychological factors associated with minority stress.

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Description
Publisher
Sage Publications
Journal
Book Title
Series
Gender and Society;2021
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0891-2432
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