Gender Stratification in Education, Work, and the Life Course Kai Feng

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Feng, Kai, author.

Contributor:

University of Pennsylvania. Demography., degree granting institution.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

0453.

0621.

0626.

0938.

Local Subjects:

0453.

0621.

0626.

0938.

Physical Description:

1 electronic resource (156 pages)

Contained In:

Dissertations Abstracts International 87-09B

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 2025

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This dissertation examines how gendered norms and institutional structures shape inequalities in education, work, and the life course. The first chapter examines gender differences in STEM aspirations, revisiting the "gender equality paradox," which highlights greater occupational segregation in advanced compared to developing economies. The indulging gendered selves theory posits that women in affluent societies prioritize self-expression, whereas women in developing contexts prioritize financial security. Using data on 15-year-old students from 30 societies, this chapter tests how motivations for self-expression and economic security shape female students' occupational aspirations. Findings reveal that both motivations coexist and jointly influence STEM aspirations. Students with dual motivations are as likely as those prioritizing security to pursue STEM in developing economies, while in advanced economies, those focused on security favor female-dominated professions. These results partially support the theory and highlight the need to refine it to better explain cross-cultural variation in women's STEM participation. The second chapter explores gendered transitions to adulthood among rural Millennials in one of China's poorest regions. Contrary to assumptions that rural youth follow uniform early transitions into work and marriage, the study uncovers diverse pathways shaped by family influences. Daughters whose mothers hold egalitarian gender attitudes are less likely to enter early work and marriage, whereas sons whose mothers expect old-age support are more likely to do so. Moreover, daughters' pathways are more sensitive to sibling structure than sons'. These findings challenge the assumption of rural homogeneity and underscore how family dynamics and gender norms structure youth development amid widening rural-urban disparities. The third chapter investigates China's widening gender gap in labor force participation despite women's educational advances. Analyzing census and panel data, it identifies gendered retirement policies as a key institutional mechanism driving this divergence. As population aging expands the share of women reaching early retirement and economic development shifts women into nonfarm jobs, these policies amplify gender inequality in labor force participation. The gap may continue to grow as the population ages and economic development proceeds

Notes:

Advisors: Hannum, Emily Committee members: Gonalons-Pons, Pilar; Song, Xi

Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 87-09, Section: B.

Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 2025

Vendor supplied data

Local Notes:

School code: 0175

ISBN:

9798277442425

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license