Race, Culture, and Identity

The Impact of Education on Women's Preferences for Gender Equality: Evidence from Sierra Leone

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We use data from Sierra Leone where a substantial education program
provided increased access to education for primary-school age children but did not
benefit children who were older.We exploit the variation in access to the program
generated by date of birth and the variation in resources between various districts
of the country. We find that an increase in schooling, triggered by the program,
has an impact on women’s attitudes toward matters that impact women’s health
and on attitudes regarding violence against women. An increase in education
reduces the number of desired children by women and increases their propensity
to use modern contraception and to be tested for AIDS. While education makes
women more intolerant of practices that conflict with their well-being, increased
education has no impact on men’s attitudes toward women’s well-being. Thus,
it is unclear whether the change in attitudes would translate into behavioral
changes. Consistent with this finding, education (on this margin) has no impact
on women’s propensity to get married, their age at first marriage or age at first
birth.

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Publication Information

: ., 2016

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Language

English

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Subject(s)

Violence against women
Education
empowerment
health
Sierra Leone
Education Program

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Article

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