The Influence of Family Socio-Economic on Children’s Gender Expectations in Macau

Abstract

Gender roles reflect the way people are influenced by social expectations and specific cultural contexts. Parents usually project their gender beliefs into their childrearing. Macau, as a special administrative region, combines Asian and Western culture with authoritative parenting models and Western encouragement styles. This paper aims to explore how Macau parents’ socioeconomic status (SES) influences their gender expectations and their approach to gender education for young children. We gathered 84 valid questionnaires titled “Macau Parents’ Gender Expectations of Young Children” via an online portal. We examine the frequency of toy purchases, parental career expectations for their children, and the gender of primary caretakers, assessing variations by SES group. Ultimately, we conclude that higher family SES affords greater resources and opportunities for children while diminishing traditional gender stereotypes.