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Child Gender and Parental Allocation of Time and Health Investments in Ecuador: Are Boys and Girls Treated Differently?

Játiva Sierra, Ximena LU (2014) EKHM52 20141
Department of Economic History
Abstract
This research empirically investigates differences in parental allocation of resources between boys and girls in Ecuador for 2012. For this task, using the ENSANUT (2012) and the TUS (2012) surveys, a novel identification strategy, that takes advantage of the fact that child’s gender at conception is random in the absence of sex selective abortion, is used. The results suggest that families do not treat boys and girls differently in Ecuador in terms of post birth control, immunization, breastfeeding practices and nutrition using anthropometric indicators. However, in terms of childcare time two important findings can be highlighted. First, childcare is in 2012 still a female only activity since female members and the mother dedicate around... (More)
This research empirically investigates differences in parental allocation of resources between boys and girls in Ecuador for 2012. For this task, using the ENSANUT (2012) and the TUS (2012) surveys, a novel identification strategy, that takes advantage of the fact that child’s gender at conception is random in the absence of sex selective abortion, is used. The results suggest that families do not treat boys and girls differently in Ecuador in terms of post birth control, immunization, breastfeeding practices and nutrition using anthropometric indicators. However, in terms of childcare time two important findings can be highlighted. First, childcare is in 2012 still a female only activity since female members and the mother dedicate around 80 percent more time to childcare than male members and the father. Second, boys receive more childcare time than girls from both male members and the father, especially in terms of secondary childcare.
This lack of commitment of male members and the father to childcare activities and the possibility of sex typing through secondary childcare time could have important consequences for gender equity and the ability of women to balance work and family commitments in Ecuador. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Játiva Sierra, Ximena LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHM52 20141
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
gender preferences, Ecuador, parental allocation of resources, time and health investments, stopping behavior
language
English
id
4468639
date added to LUP
2014-07-01 13:29:11
date last changed
2014-07-01 13:29:11
@misc{4468639,
  abstract     = {{This research empirically investigates differences in parental allocation of resources between boys and girls in Ecuador for 2012. For this task, using the ENSANUT (2012) and the TUS (2012) surveys, a novel identification strategy, that takes advantage of the fact that child’s gender at conception is random in the absence of sex selective abortion, is used. The results suggest that families do not treat boys and girls differently in Ecuador in terms of post birth control, immunization, breastfeeding practices and nutrition using anthropometric indicators. However, in terms of childcare time two important findings can be highlighted. First, childcare is in 2012 still a female only activity since female members and the mother dedicate around 80 percent more time to childcare than male members and the father. Second, boys receive more childcare time than girls from both male members and the father, especially in terms of secondary childcare.
This lack of commitment of male members and the father to childcare activities and the possibility of sex typing through secondary childcare time could have important consequences for gender equity and the ability of women to balance work and family commitments in Ecuador.}},
  author       = {{Játiva Sierra, Ximena}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Child Gender and Parental Allocation of Time and Health Investments in Ecuador: Are Boys and Girls Treated Differently?}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}