Household Level Determinants of Educational Attainment for Young Females: An Empirical Analysis of Chinese Rural Areas

Abstract

This paper investigates household level determinants of educational outcomes for young, rural Chinese females, examining whether there is male-preference and one-child advantage in educational outcomes. Results indicate females from one-child families have an advantage for schooling over females from multi-child families. Based on the birth parity in the natal families, within one-child families, females do not have significantly lower years of schooling than males. However, compared to females from two-child families, females from one-child families significantly complete more schooling years (1.94 years more). Based on the gender and birth order within the sibling pairs, having a younger male sibling will not only reduce the older sister’s completed schooling years, but also decreases the probability of attending academic high school. Young females in rural China face disadvantage in both completed years of schooling and achieved educational level.