Human agency and instrumental rationality: applying human capital to gender inequalities and intergenerational stratification

Background and Motivation
Existing literature highlights education's potential for reducing inequalities and fostering social mobility. However, our understanding of its precise role remains incomplete. This thesis contends that educational attainment, a form of human capital, can evolve differently based on human agency and instrumental rationality, influencing its effectiveness in mitigating inequalities and enhancing mobilities.

Objective and Methods
Drawing upon modern China as a case study, this theoretically driven thesis proffers broad implications. Leveraging data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), it addresses three key questions: First, is there a human capital transfer between spouses, and what are the implications for inequalities and stratification? Second, is there a human capital transfer from mothers to children, and what are the implications for inequalities and stratification? Third, is there a transformation from human capital into social capital, and what are the implications for inequalities and stratification?

Main Findings
Human Capital Transfer Between Spouses: Within marital relationships, a transfer of human capital exists. When married women underutilize their education-based human capital, their husbands benefit from this underutilization, effectively compensating for potential family income loss on average. This phenomenon is strongly influenced by traditional gender ideologies, and notably, these ideologies become reinforced when a wife's underutilization of her education aligns with a growth in family income.
Lack of Human Capital Transfer from Mothers to Children: Contrary to expectations, there is no significant transfer of education-based human capital from mothers to their children. In situations where mothers underutilize their education-based human capital, not only do their children's educational outcomes fail to benefit from this underutilization, but they also suffer as a result. Consequently, advocating for mothers to make labor income or career sacrifices for their children's education may not be a wise course of action.
Transformation from Human Capital into Social Capital: Educational attainment plays a pivotal role in increasing individuals' awareness of utilizing and their willingness to use social connections for instrumental purposes. Furthermore, the relationship between educational attainment and the awareness of leveraging social connections for instrumental purposes is moderated by gender and one's experience of educational upward mobility.

Contributions
Theoretically, this thesis contributes to linking human agency and instrumental rationality to the persistence and transformation of structural inequalities; it also sheds light on education’s potential and limitations as an equalizer. Practically, it offers policy insights for addressing gender income disparities and promoting intergenerational mobilities.

Keywords: China
intergenerational stratification
social capital
instrumental rationality
gender inequalities
human agency
education
Advisor: K, M-Y