Gender differential in education and parent’s attitude in West Bengal, India

• In Event: 2429 - Open Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Roundtable 2

Abstract

This study investigates the role of parental characteristics as explanations for gender differences in children’s education using primary data collected from four villages in West Bengal, India in 2007-08. We add to existing research by exploring the importance of parental perception as a possible explanation for the gender gap. Results show no evidence of gender bias in primary school enrolment. However, a large percentage of parents believe that boys should have more education than girls, an attitude that is reflected in the gender gap in education at older ages. Girls whose parents believe that the primary reason for educating girls is economic independence have a higher educational level than those without. On the other hand, older males whose parents believe that the only reason for educating girls is to improve their chances of marriage and/or make them better housekeepers and mothers, have a considerable educational advantage over their same sex peers. Among the other variables, mother’s education has a beneficial effect on her daughter’s education for the younger sample while her work status has a negative effect, showing that daughters are more likely to be withdrawn from school (but not sons) for household duties when they have a working mother. For the older sample, father’s education has a positive effect on both son’s and daughter’s education while having a working mother or a very low standard of living is detrimental to children of both sexes, although the effects are stronger for daughters than for sons.

Author

• Sunita Bose, SUNY New Paltz