"Gendering On The Confucian Clan : A Social Cost Perspective"

Abstract :
This paper unbundles the role of the Confucian clan through a systems approach, focusing on its long-lasting effects on women by shaping a traditional gender institution in China. Specifically, we ask whether the Confucian clan, as a risk-sharing institution, perpetuates itself by reinforcing a patrilineal system through establishing gender-based norms and choice sets and confining women to the private sphere (inside the household), thereby compelling women to disproportionately bear the social costs. Using nationally representative survey data and an instrumental variable approach, we find that the Confucian clan explains a significant portion of traditional gender norms, and shapes a distinct choice set for men and women, including earlier marriage, son preference, gender disparities in human capital formation, and a traditional gender-based division of labor in both households and workplaces. In addition, the effects on traditional gender norms persist among immigrants, alleviating concerns about confounding influences from region-specific characteristics. Furthermore, we find that when the Dibao program, a minimum livelihood guarantee program in China, replaces the Confucian clan’s role in risk sharing, gender norms become more liberal and son preference diminishes.