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Gender Roles and the Education Gender Gap in Turkey

Author

Listed:
  • Asena Caner

    (TOBB University of Economics and Technology [Ankara])

  • Cahit Guven

    (Deakin University [Melbourne Burwood])

  • Cagla Okten

    (Bilkent University [Ankara])

  • Seyhun Orcan Sakalli

    (PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

Using nationally representative data on individual subjective views on gender roles, we examine the gender gap in educational achievement in Turkey and show that the cultural bias against the education of girls is a fundamental factor behind their low educational attainment in socially conservative societies. The 1997 education reform in Turkey extended compulsory schooling from 5 to 8 years. Using the reform as a natural experiment, we investigate the impact of the reform on the effects of mothers' traditional views in determining children's educational attainment. We find that the reform helped reduce school dropout rates across the country. Nevertheless, regardless of the mother's view on gender roles, the reductions in school dropout rates were similar for boys and girls, failing to eliminate the gender gap against girls. Turkey is an excellent environment to study the effects of societal gender roles since it combines modernity with traditionalism and displays a wide spectrum of views on gender roles. It is also one of the few developing countries where a gender gap to the detriment of females still exists in educational achievement.

Suggested Citation

  • Asena Caner & Cahit Guven & Cagla Okten & Seyhun Orcan Sakalli, 2016. "Gender Roles and the Education Gender Gap in Turkey," Post-Print halshs-01510467, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01510467
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    Cited by:

    1. Ayça Akarçay-Gürbüz & Sezgin Polat, 2017. "Schooling Opportunities and Intergenerational Educational Mobility in Turkey: An IV Estimation Using Census Data," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(9), pages 1396-1413, September.
    2. Betul Akar & Pelin Akyol & Cagla Okten, 2022. "Education and Voluntary Work: Evidence from Turkish Time Use Survey," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 275-320, June.
    3. Asena Caner & Merve Derebasoglu & Cagla Okten, 2024. "Attainment and Gender Equality in Higher Education: Evidence from a Large-Scale Expansion," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 18(3), pages 469-530.
    4. Aleksandra Gawel & Timo Toikko, 2023. "Quality of Governance and Welfare Generosity as Institutional Predictors of Entrepreneurship: European Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, October.
    5. Akyol, Pelin & Ökten, Çağla, 2024. "The role of religion in female labor supply: evidence from two Muslim denominations," Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 90(1), pages 116-153, March.
    6. Zhang, Hongliang & Assaad, Ragui, 2024. "Women’s access to school, educational attainment, and fertility: Evidence from Jordan," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    7. Akar, Betul & Akyol, Pelin & Okten, Cagla, 2019. "Education and Prosocial Behavior: Evidence from Time Use Survey," IZA Discussion Papers 12558, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Demirel-Derebasoglu, Merve & Okten, Cagla, 2020. "Gender Gap in Intergenerational Educational Persistence: Can Compulsory Schooling Reduce It?," IZA Discussion Papers 13362, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Merve Demirel-Derebasoglu & Cagla Okten, 2022. "Gender Gap in Intergenerational Educational Persistence: Can Compulsory Schooling Reduce It?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(5), pages 2037-2083, October.
    10. Akyol, Pelin & Okten, Cagla, 2019. "The Role of Culture on Female Labor Supply: Evidence from Turkey," IZA Discussion Papers 12620, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Stephen Smith, 2018. "Development Economics Meets the Challenges of Lagging U.S. Areas: Applications to Education, Health and Nutrition, Behavior, and Infrastructure," Working Papers 2018-7, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.

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