Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
09:29
Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics
Published on: December 14, 2011
Transportation to work by sexual orientation
Sonia Oreffice1,2,3, Dario Sansone1,2
1Department of Economics, Business School, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|February 15, 2022
Summary
Individuals in same-sex couples are less likely to drive to work, favoring public transport, walking, or biking. These transportation disparities by sexual orientation may stem from greater environmental concern among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Transportation Studies
- Environmental Psychology
Background:
- Understanding commuting patterns is crucial for urban planning and social equity.
- Sexual orientation is an under-examined factor influencing daily travel choices.
- Previous research has not fully explored transportation differences among sexual minority individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate disparities in work transportation modes based on sexual orientation.
- To quantify differences in driving, public transit, and active commuting between same-sex and different-sex couples.
- To explore potential underlying reasons, such as environmental values, for observed transportation differences.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the American Community Survey (ACS) data from 2008-2019.
- Statistical comparison of commuting behaviors across different sexual orientations.
- Control analysis for demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic variables.
- Supplementary analysis using the General Social Survey (GSS) data (2008-2018).
Main Results:
- Individuals in same-sex couples are significantly less likely to drive to work compared to those in different-sex couples.
- Men in same-sex couples show a particularly pronounced decrease (13%) in driving likelihood.
- Individuals in same-sex couples exhibit higher utilization of public transport, walking, and cycling.
- Working men in same-sex couples are more likely to work from home, while women are less likely.
Conclusions:
- Sexual orientation is independently associated with distinct work transportation patterns.
- Environmental values may partially explain the observed transportation disparities.
- Findings highlight the need for inclusive transportation policies and urban planning.
Related Concept Videos
02:55Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who are...
02:12Short-distance Transport of Resources
Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
01:31Transport Number
The transport number is the fraction of the total current carried by an ion in an electrolyte solution. It is defined as the ratio of the current carried by a specific ion to the total current flowing through the solution. The transport number, t, is central to understanding ionic mobility, which describes how fast an ion moves under the influence of an electric field. This link connects the physical behavior of ions in solution to the chemical processes that occur during electrochemical...
01:15Sperm Transport
The journey of sperm from its origin to the point of ejaculation begins within the seminiferous tubules of the testis. Here, Sertoli cells produce fluid that propels non-motile sperm through a series of conduits, starting with the straight tubules leading to the rete testis. This interconnected network of tubules acts as the initial pathway for sperm, guiding them into the efferent ductules and then into the epididymis for maturation.
The maturation phase occurs in the epididymis, where sperm...
The maturation phase occurs in the epididymis, where sperm...
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
01:28Amebiasis
Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...