Abstract:

Using the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS2008) data，this paper analyzes how family background influences
gender inequality in rural education from four aspects: family financial status，parent educational level，the number of children
and the ranking of female child among the siblings. We discover that family financial status is the most significant factor causing
gender inequality in rural education，but it is not the only factor. The educational level of parents，the number of brothers and
sisters and the ranking of female child among the siblings affect gender inequality in rural education to different extents. Higher
educational level of parents noticeably promotes the educational level of female children. The number of brothers and sisters
and the ranking of female child among the siblings do not have an obvious effect on gender inequality in rural education，that
is，there is no obvious inequality in household allocating of educational resources among boys and girls. Therefore，the key
to rural education equality is to improve rural household financial status. Only when families could adequately support the
educational needs of their children，can we hope to achieve quality rural education providing equal opportunities for children
of both genders.

Key words: rural education, gender inequality, family financial status, educational level of parents, the number of brothers
and sisters, the ranking of female child among the siblings