Has the widespread use of electricity in household promoted higher women's subjective social status? Evidence from the China family panel studies

Chinese women face significant challenges in terms of their social status due to the heavy burden of household responsibilities, workplace pressure, and societal expectations. Against the broader backdrop of China's clean energy transition, the link between household electric energy transition and women's subjective social status warrants greater attention. This study innovatively uses data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and employs an ordered logit model to examine this relationship, while also evaluating the underlying mechanisms from the perspectives of mental health and housework. The main findings are as follows: (1) Household electric energy transition significantly improves women's subjective social status; (2) This positive effect is primarily mediated through improvements in mental health and reductions in time spent on household chores; (3) The effect is more pronounced among women in moderately sized households, with higher-status spouses, lower educational attainment, no adherence to religious or traditional cultural beliefs, high levels of internet engagement, and limited financial decision-making power within the family. This study contributes to the literature by offering a new perspective on the social implications of energy transition and provides practical insights to promote women's social status through household energy policy.