Do Egalitarian Gender Roles Hold Significance in China? The Impact of Gender Role Attitudes on Divorce Risk

Lu Gao, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
Sam Hyun Yoo, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea

This study investigates the impact of gender-role attitudes on the risk of divorce in China, highlighting significant differences between men and women. Utilizing longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies (2014-2020), we employ a Cox proportional hazards model to analyze how individual-level gender-role attitudes and socio-demographic factors influence divorce risk in first marital unions, with a sample size of 11,642. The findings reveal that egalitarian attitudes decrease the risk of divorce for men but increase the risk for women. Additionally, younger cohorts, urban household registration (hukou), higher age at first marriage, and educational attainment significantly affect divorce risk. The study underscores the necessity of promoting gender equality to foster stable and high-quality marriages in modern Chinese society. This research provides a valuable basis for policy formulation aimed at enhancing family stability and advancing gender equality. Future research should incorporate variables that more accurately reflect role performance and further investigate the ongoing gender revolution in China.

Keywords: Gender Dynamics, Families, Unions and Households, Mathematical demography , Longitudinal studies

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