Why Women Own Less in China? Sibship Structure, Intersibling Transfer, and Gender Inequality in Homeownership

44 Pages Posted: 21 May 2023 Last revised: 30 Sep 2023

See all articles by Fangqi Wen

Fangqi Wen

Ohio State University (OSU) - Department of Sociology

Cheng Cheng

Singapore Management University

Date Written: May 16, 2023

Abstract

Existing research documents that a gender wealth gap exists across societies, which can be attributed to gender disparities in individual characteristics as well as intrafamily resource transfers. This study, focusing on China, examines how sibship structure and intersibling transfer contribute to gender inequality in homeownership, the largest share of family wealth. While prior literature has highlighted parents’ unequal transfers to sons and daughters, we emphasize the significance of both intergenerational and intersibling transfers. Given China’s strong patriarchal traditions, siblings are more inclined to financially support their brothers than sisters. Consequently, having siblings may exert opposite effects on men and women. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies and the Covariate Balancing Generalized Propensity Score method to alleviate selection into different sibship sizes, we show that (1) compared to only-child sons, only-child daughters are significantly less likely to have their names on the property deed; (2) gender inequality in homeownership widens as the number of siblings increases; and (3) while men benefit from having siblings, women get penalized in access to homeownership, especially those with younger, spaced-apart siblings. These findings challenge the resource dilution theory, suggesting that women’s wealth disadvantages are rooted in their inferior position in the kinship system.

Keywords: gender inequality, wealth inequality, housing inequality, sibship structure, China

Suggested Citation

Wen, Fangqi and Cheng, Cheng, Why Women Own Less in China? Sibship Structure, Intersibling Transfer, and Gender Inequality in Homeownership (May 16, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4449609 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4449609

Fangqi Wen (Contact Author)

Ohio State University (OSU) - Department of Sociology ( email )

Columbus, OH

Cheng Cheng

Singapore Management University ( email )

10 Canning Rise Level 5
School of Social Sciences
Singapore, 179873
Singapore

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