Intergenerational Transmission of Gender Attitudes: Evidence from India

29 Pages Posted: 3 Aug 2015 Last revised: 22 Jul 2023

See all articles by Diva Dhar

Diva Dhar

University of Oxford; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Tarun Jain

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

Seema Jayachandran

Northwestern University - Department of Economics

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Date Written: July 2015

Abstract

This paper examines the intergenerational transmission of gender attitudes in India, a setting where discrimination against women and girls is severe. We use survey data on gender attitudes (specifically, views about the appropriate roles and rights of women and girls) collected from adolescents attending 314 schools in the state of Haryana, and their parents. We find that when a parent holds a more discriminatory attitude, his or her child is about 15 to 20 percentage points more likely to hold the view. As a benchmark, classmates' average gender attitudes have a similar effect size. We find that mothers influence children's gender attitudes more than fathers do. Parental attitudes also affect their children's aspirations; girls with more discriminatory parents are less likely to want to continue their schooling beyond high school.

Suggested Citation

Dhar, Diva and Jain, Tarun and Jayachandran, Seema, Intergenerational Transmission of Gender Attitudes: Evidence from India (July 2015). NBER Working Paper No. w21429, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2638980

Diva Dhar (Contact Author)

University of Oxford ( email )

Mansfield Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4AU
United Kingdom

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ( email )

Seattle, WA
United States

Tarun Jain

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad ( email )

Vastraour
Ahmedabad, 380015
India

Seema Jayachandran

Northwestern University - Department of Economics ( email )

2003 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208
United States

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