Aspirational Revolution or Aspiration Failure? Gendered Effect of Household Wealth on Educational Aspirations in China

Abstract

This study investigates the gendered impact of household wealth on children's educational aspirations in China. Using two waves of longitudinal survey data of Chinese households from 2012 and 2016, we find that household assets have a differential impact on girls' and boys' educational aspirations. Household assets have a significant and positive impact on girls' aspirations for higher education, especially for graduate school, whereas boys' aspirations remain relatively stable across asset levels. We also demonstrate that this positive impact of household assets on girls' educational aspirations is limited to girls with same-sex siblings. Girls with sisters are more likely to report an increase in aspirations for higher education with increasing levels of household assets. Conversely, for girls with brothers, household assets have a negative impact on their aspirations for higher education. Our findings suggest that traditional gender norms and family investment strategies play a critical role in shaping educational aspirations, particularly in families with both sons and daughters.