What does urban-rural equality bring to gender equality? A story of electrification

Gender inequality remains a persistent challenge in many developing countries. While infrastructure development is widely acknowledged as a catalyst for women's empowerment, substantial urban–rural disparities in access complicate its gender-related outcomes. This study examines the effect of the urban–rural electricity gap (UREG) on female labor force participation, providing insights to inform infrastructure policy design. The results demonstrate that narrowing the UREG significantly increases women's labor force participation by alleviating domestic burdens, promoting formal employment opportunities, and expanding lower skilled accessible jobs. Furthermore, these effects are more pronounced in countries with higher levels of national risk, entrenched institutional gender discrimination, and lower levels of male dominance. Collectively, these findings underscore the critical importance of addressing urban–rural disparities in infrastructure and electrification policies to advance gender equality in developing countries.