Holding Up Half the Sky? Ethno-Gender Labour Market Outcomes in China

Journal of Contemporary China 28(117): 415-433

23 Pages Posted: 17 Aug 2016 Last revised: 8 May 2019

See all articles by Hua-Yu Cherng

Hua-Yu Cherng

New York University (NYU)

Reza Hasmath

University of Alberta - Department of Political Science

Benjamin Ho

Vassar College

Date Written: 2019

Abstract

Studies looking at gender and ethnic minority outcomes in China’s labour market have generally suggested that women and minorities are separately experiencing a wage disadvantage relative to males and the Han majority respectively. But, what is the experience of this combined cohort, ethnic minority women? Using data from China’s 2005 one percent mini-census, we discern ethno-gender labour market outcomes by factoring education, labour force participation, working hours, age, family structure (e.g. married, number of dependents) and geography (e.g. urban/rural, bordering province). We surprisingly find that ethnic minority women are less disadvantaged in the labour market than Han women. This is largely due to smaller penalties linked to marriage and having children.

Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Gender, Labour Market, Wage Gap, China

Suggested Citation

Cherng, Hua-Yu and Hasmath, Reza and Ho, Benjamin, Holding Up Half the Sky? Ethno-Gender Labour Market Outcomes in China (2019). Journal of Contemporary China 28(117): 415-433, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2824122 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2824122

Hua-Yu Cherng

New York University (NYU)

Bobst Library, E-resource Acquisitions
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New York, NY 10003-711
United States

Reza Hasmath (Contact Author)

University of Alberta - Department of Political Science ( email )

10-10 HM Tory Building
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H4
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://www.rezahasmath.com

Benjamin Ho

Vassar College ( email )

124 Raymond Avenue
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
United States

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