The educational gradient in young singlehood: The role of gender and the gender climate

Abstract

BACKGROUND Universities are described as “waiting halls” for union formation. However, little is known about the size of the educational gradient in single living after leaving home. OBJECTIVE This paper examines the educational gradient in single living after leaving home in 30 European countries and the role of gender and the gender climate in each country for this gradient. METHODS I use data from the European Social Survey, supplemented with data from the OECD and European Values Study for the contextual measures. Predicted probabilities for single living are compared across educational groups, genders, and countries. Using random slope models with an interaction between education and the gender climate, I examine whether the educational gradient is larger in less gender-egalitarian countries.