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Early Marriage, Social Networks and the Transmission of Norms

Asadullah, M. Niaz, Wahhaj, Zaki (2019) Early Marriage, Social Networks and the Transmission of Norms. Economica, 86 (344). pp. 801-831. ISSN 0013-0427. E-ISSN 1468-0335. (doi:10.1111/ecca.12291) (KAR id:67552)

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Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1111/ecca.12291

Abstract

We investigate whether female early marriage is a conduit for the transmission of social norms, specifically norms relating to gender roles and rights within the household. We exploit differences in age at menarche between sisters as an exogenous source of variation in marriage age. This approach allows us to control for beliefs and attitudes that are transmitted from parents to children. Using a sample of unmarried adolescents, we first show that the timing of menarche has no direct effect on adolescent attitudes towards gender norms. Yet we find that early marriage increases agreement with statements supportive of traditional gender roles and gender bias in the allocation of resources. We also find some evidence that early marriage worsens the (self-reported) quality of a woman’s post-marital social network

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/ecca.12291
Projects: 'The Role of Secondary Schooling and Gender Norms in the Long-term Opportunities and Choices of Rural Bangladeshi Women
Uncontrolled keywords: Gender Roles, Social Norms, Schooling, Household Decision-Making
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Economics
Funders: [UNSPECIFIED] Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Depositing User: Zaki Wahhaj
Date Deposited: 02 Jul 2018 12:47 UTC
Last Modified: 15 Sep 2021 15:23 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/67552 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)
Asadullah, M. Niaz: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8047-5548
Wahhaj, Zaki: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8285-7670
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