The impact of family background on female labor force participation

Li Huang and Ying Li

Finance Research Letters, 2025, vol. 73, issue C

Abstract: Despite China's economic progress, the determinants of female labor force participation (FLP) remain understudied, particularly regarding the role of family background and its interaction with gender perceptions. This study examines how parental education and household registration status influence FLP and whether gender inequality perceptions moderate these relationships. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies 2020, we employ logistic regression models with interaction terms. Results indicate that higher parental education and urban hukou status positively affect FLP. However, gender inequality perceptions exhibit a complex moderating effect. Although higher awareness of gender inequality may generally increase FLP, it weakens the positive effects of parental education and urban hukou status. Furthermore, we determine that the influence of family background varies across age groups. The effect of parental education is strong for women aged 36–49, while hukou status has a greater impact on FLP for younger women (18–35). These findings underscore the complex interplay between intergenerational factors, institutional barriers, individual perceptions, and age in shaping women's employment decisions in China, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and age-specific policies to promote gender equality in the labor market.

Keywords: Female labor force participation; Family background; Gender inequality; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 J62 O15 P36 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:finlet:v:73:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324016635

DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106634

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