An Ocean formed from one hundred rivers: the effects of ethnicity, gender, marriage, and location on labor force participation in urban China

Margaret Maurer-Fazio, James Hughes and Dandan Zhang ()

Feminist Economics, 2007, vol. 13, issue 3-4, 159-187

Abstract: This paper analyzes changes in labor force participation rates over time for gender- and ethnicity-differentiated groups in urban China. From 1990 to 2000, urban labor force participation rates fell substantially with women's rates declining more rapidly than men's and minority women's declining more rapidly than Han women's. Women's labor force participation is determined by a complex interaction of often gendered economic, demographic, and cultural factors that vary considerably by ethnic group. This analysis employs probit regression techniques to census data to explore possible explanations for the observed changes. This paper focuses on five of China's larger ethnic groups: the Han, Hui, Korean, Uygur, and Zhuang. Although many of the findings differ by ethnic group, for married women there is evidence of a return to more traditional expectations about gendered household roles that is consistent across groups. The research techniques also uncover evidence of discrimination against men of certain ethnic groups.

Keywords: China; ethnic minority; gender; labor force participation; WTO; JEL Codes: J15; J21; O53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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DOI: 10.1080/13545700701439424

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