The gender gap in children’s educational time investments in informal settlements

Michelle Escobar Carías; Nicole Black; David Johnston; Rohan Sweeney; S. Fiona Barker; Rosnaena; Syaidah Syamsul; Taniela Waka

doi:10.1007/s11150-025-09772-7

The gender gap in children’s educational time investments in informal settlements

Michelle Escobar Carías
, Nicole Black
, David Johnston
, Rohan Sweeney
, S. Fiona Barker
, Rosnaena
, Syaidah Syamsul
, Taniela Waka

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

We document gender differences in children’s time investments in education, unpaid labour, and leisure in an understudied population of children living in urban informal settlements in Indonesia and Fiji. Using within-settlement and within-sibling comparisons, we find that boys spend significantly less time than girls on schooling and homework and more time on leisure activities. We find no evidence that parents spend less time engaged in educational activities with sons compared with daughters. We find that the gender gaps in time use are more pronounced among children whose parents have lower schooling and more financial constraints.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1133-1153
Number of pages	21
Journal	Review of Economics of the Household
Volume	23
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11150-025-09772-7
Publication status	Published - 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality

Keywords

Education
Gender gap
Informal settlements
Time use

Access to Document

10.1007/s11150-025-09772-7Licence: CC BY

697224181-oaFinal published version, 856 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "The gender gap in children{\textquoteright}s educational time investments in informal settlements",

abstract = "We document gender differences in children{\textquoteright}s time investments in education, unpaid labour, and leisure in an understudied population of children living in urban informal settlements in Indonesia and Fiji. Using within-settlement and within-sibling comparisons, we find that boys spend significantly less time than girls on schooling and homework and more time on leisure activities. We find no evidence that parents spend less time engaged in educational activities with sons compared with daughters. We find that the gender gaps in time use are more pronounced among children whose parents have lower schooling and more financial constraints.",

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T1 - The gender gap in children’s educational time investments in informal settlements

AU - Escobar Carías, Michelle

AU - Black, Nicole

AU - Johnston, David

AU - Sweeney, Rohan

AU - Barker, S. Fiona

AU - Rosnaena, null

AU - Syamsul, Syaidah

AU - Waka, Taniela

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - We document gender differences in children’s time investments in education, unpaid labour, and leisure in an understudied population of children living in urban informal settlements in Indonesia and Fiji. Using within-settlement and within-sibling comparisons, we find that boys spend significantly less time than girls on schooling and homework and more time on leisure activities. We find no evidence that parents spend less time engaged in educational activities with sons compared with daughters. We find that the gender gaps in time use are more pronounced among children whose parents have lower schooling and more financial constraints.

AB - We document gender differences in children’s time investments in education, unpaid labour, and leisure in an understudied population of children living in urban informal settlements in Indonesia and Fiji. Using within-settlement and within-sibling comparisons, we find that boys spend significantly less time than girls on schooling and homework and more time on leisure activities. We find no evidence that parents spend less time engaged in educational activities with sons compared with daughters. We find that the gender gaps in time use are more pronounced among children whose parents have lower schooling and more financial constraints.

KW - Education

KW - Gender gap

KW - Informal settlements

KW - Time use

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105001484644

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SN - 1569-5239

VL - 23

SP - 1133

EP - 1153

JO - Review of Economics of the Household

JF - Review of Economics of the Household

ER -

The gender gap in children’s educational time investments in informal settlements

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Health and economic benefits of environmentally sensitive watercycle management in informal urban settlements

Children's time investments, cognitive development and health

Cite this

The gender gap in children’s educational time investments in informal settlements

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Projects

Health and economic benefits of environmentally sensitive watercycle management in informal urban settlements

Children's time investments, cognitive development and health

Cite this