Religious Tradition and Workplace Religious Discrimination: The Moderating Effects of Regional Context

Abstract

A nascent but growing literature on religious discrimination in U.S. workplaces has shown that some religious identities, especially non-Christian and nonreligious identities, are more likely to experience and/or perceive such discrimination. While Christianity might represent the majority of the U.S. population, the religious composition of the United States is not monolithic. Regional differences in religious demography and culture could shape the discrimination experiences of individuals belonging to particular religious traditions. This research examines this question using data from a nationally representative survey that asked respondents how often they have experienced religious discrimination in their place of work. We find that atheists are more likely to perceive discrimination in the South than in the West and Northeast. Non-Christians are more likely to perceive discrimination in the South and Northeast than in the West. Finally, evangelical Protestants are more likely to perceive discrimination in the West than in the South.