Travail et économie publique externe

Du 12/12/2024 de 12:30 à 13:30

PSE- 48 boulevard Jourdan, 74014 Paris, salle R1-09

KUEBLER Dorothea (WZB)

The Gender Gap in Gender-Blind University Admissions

We examine China's gender-blind university admissions process and uncover a significant gender gap: equally qualified female students are substantially less likely to apply to and be admitted to elite universities compared to their male counterparts. By combining administrative and survey data, we show that this disparity is not driven by differences in risk aversion, strategic sophistication, confidence, or competitiveness. Instead, it is primarily explained by women's stronger preference for geographically proximate and education-focused universities. The survey data reveal that these preferences are less reflective of genuine aspirations and more influenced by parental expectations. Students' self-reports indicate that parents guide their daughters more toward nearby and education-focused universities compared to their sons. Moreover, women's actual application decisions are more affected by parental expectations and stereotypical beliefs than men's. These findings demonstrate that gender-specific parental expectations and social norms can lead to gender differences in admission outcomes even in an admissions system designed to be meritocratic and gender-neutral.