PUBLICATIONS & REPORTS
PUBLICATIONS & REPORTS
From Kitakyushu to the world: AGI, a research institute that studies Asia's economy and society
Mothers’ Educational Expectations for Sons and Daughters in Rural China
| Author | Yuping Zhang, Grace Kao, Emily Hannum |
|---|---|
| Date of Publication | 2004. 7 |
| No. | 2004-11 |
| Download | 705KB |
Contents Introduction
We investigate maternal attitudes about gender equity and their relationship to educational expectations for sons and daughters in rural China using a survey of 2000 mothers and children in Gansu Province. Our findings suggest that most mothers hold egalitarian attitudes in terms of gender equity, but most expect future support from sons. Mothers’ own attitudes about gender equity, their expectations of future support, and their children’s past educational achievements predict their educational aspirations for their children. Interestingly, gender biases in aspirations appear more pronounced among mothers of mediocre students – mothers seem to be more forgiving of the mediocre academic performance of sons relative to daughters.