Gender Roles and Ethnic Variation in Educational Attainment in Ürümchi, China

• In Event: 386 - Regular Session. Sociology of Middle East and Muslim Societies

Abstract

Inequalities between Han Chinese and Uyghur Muslims have underscored ethnic conflicts in Xinjiang, China, and have attracted international attention. Using survey data (n = 1,600) on Han Chinese and Uyghur Muslims collected in Ürümchi in Xinjiang, this paper examines why Uyghur Muslims are less educated than Han Chinese in China. Data analysis shows that Han Chinese are more likely than Uyghur Muslims to receive schooling, and the ethnic variation persists holding main background characteristics constant. However, the differences in schooling between Han men and Uyghur men fade away when background characteristics are controlled for, whereas no similar patterns are found among women. Gender roles account for both ethnic parity in schooling between Han men and Uyghur men and ethnic inequality in schooling between Han women and Uyghur women, which underlies the overall Han-Uyghur gap in educational attainment in Ürümchi. Interview data with both Han Chinese and Uyghur Muslims from field work in Ürümchi explain relative gender parity in schooling among Han Chinese and gender inequality in schooling among Uyghur Muslims.

Author

• Xiaowei Zang, University of Hong Kong