Why should boys have all the funds? Gender inequality in household education expenditure in India

Purpose

An individual’s personality development and pursuit of a respectable livelihood are inextricably linked to their level of education. However, it is now a tool to free the oppressed from the bonds of poverty, injustice, and power rather than being limited to job searching. Therefore, family spending on early schooling is quite important. This study investigates gender-based disparity in educational spending in Uttar Pradesh, India, by religion.

Method

The study employs the Blinder-Oaxaca (B-O) decomposition method on data from the 75th round of the National Sample Survey (2017–18) to illustrate gender disparity. It also shows the dynamics of gender disparity in various counterfactual cases.

Findings

The results reveal a significant disparity in spending on elementary education between boys and girls, with Hindu and Muslim households allocating substantially more resources to male children. Factors contributing to this gap include enrolment, caste hierarchy, household size, MPCE quintile, and institution type. While enrolment and caste contribute to reducing gender disparities for both communities, household size, MPCE quintile, and institution type exacerbate these disparities.

Implications

The study emphasizes the impact of cultural beliefs, historical factors, and government policies on education spending patterns. Additionally, it underscores the need for targeted interventions to address gender discrimination and promote equal educational opportunities in the context of evolving socioeconomic dynamics.