From Adolescence to Early Adulthood: A Case Study of

Gendered Trajectories through School in India

Uma Vennam Anuradha Komanduri Jen RoestYoung Lives – India and Oxford

Adolescence, Youth and Gender conferenceOxford, 8-9 September 2016

Overview

• The Study • Young Lives Sample• Survey Statistics• Qualitative data• Factors Influencing Trajectories• Case Studies• Conclusion

The Study • Looks at the educational pathways of adolescent boys

and girls in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana -when gender inequality begins -whether gender disparities persist -impact of gendered norms on children’s trajectories

• Uses longitudinal qualitative data and descriptive survey statistics

• Adopts a case study approach to explore intersecting factors at individual, household and community level that explain changing trajectories over time.

Young Lives Sample

AGES: 1 5 8 12 15

YOU

NGE

R CO

HORT

Following 2,000 children

OLD

ER C

OHO

RT

Following 1,000 children

AGES: 8 12 15 19 22

Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 2002 2006 2009 2013 2016

Same age children at different time points

Qualitative nested sample 1 2 3 4

Linked school surveys

Young Lives Sample: India

Quantitative - 20 sites = 3,000 children

1000 Older Cohort; 2000 Younger Cohort

Older Cohort Round 4: 952; 465 Male 487 Female

Qualitative - 4 sites ; 48 of these children for in-depth case studies

Qual4 : 23; 11Female; 12 Male

Sub-SampleSub-Sample and Methods and Methods

• 4 Sites – 1Urban, 2Rural

1Tribal • 48 Children – 24 Boys and 24 Girls • Individual interviews with children, care givers

and service providers • Group-based methods• School and Home Observation

Status at R4 : Education and Work

Status at 19

Male% Female% Total %

Only Studying 33.76 33.06 33.40

Study and Work

22.80 7.80 15.13

Only Work 39.79 32.03 35.82

Neither Work nor Study

3.66 27.10 15.65

Current educational level enrolled

MaleNo.

Male%

FemaleNo.

Female%

TotalNo.

Total%

Not enrolled 202 43.44 288 59.14 490 51.47

Secondary 2 0.43 2 0.41 4 0.42

Higher Secondary 58 12.47 24 4.93 82 8.61

Post-Secondary/Vocational 48 10.32 24 4.93 72 7.56

University 155 33.33 149 30.6 304 31.93

Total 465 100 487 100 952 100

Level of Education

Schooling

Schooling &Work

Dropout-Fulltime Work

Dropout-Marriage-Parenthood

Schooling & Marriage

Male 3 2 6 1

Female 3 2 1 4 1

Status : Qual Sample

Factors Influencing Trajectories

• Individual : Aspirations and Ambitions• Household : Parental Aspirations, Support, Economic

factors, • Community : Norms; Birth order• Social Protection : Government and NGO support

Various Factors Intersect: Always a combination of factors

Factors Influencing Trajectories• Gender : More Girls than Boys drop out: get married

early• Family Wealth Index : Poorer Terciles – Boys into

Fulltime Work; Girls Marriage• Location: Influences Educational status of young

people: Variation between those in fulltime education – Urban 48.94% Rural 26.77%

• Managing education and work 7.74% of the urban sample does both and 18.35% in the rural sample.

• In the category of managing education and work : engaging in unpaid work more in rural areas (11.28%)- more girls- urban areas (2.11%)

• Caste: Other castes more likely to be enrolled in fulltime education (51%) Scheduled Castes (29.9) Scheduled Tribes 30% and Backward Castes (27%)

Factors Influencing Trajectories : Case Studies

• Early Drop Out-Early Work- Early Marriage – Distance to School-Safety and Security : Latha and Bhavana

• Parental Education and Aspirations for Children: Vinay, Santhi, Keerthi

• Family Circumstances : Father’s Death (Salman) Mother’s Illhealth (Ameena) Indebtedness (Ravi)

• Community Norms : Harika

Summary

• Persisting Gender Gaps : Need More Focus • Fewer Girls into Vocational Education • Impact of MIgration • Early School drop outs –early marriage • Unpaid HH/Farm Work- Low Attendance-School Drop-

Early Marriage • Residential schools facilitate continuation in school-

Delay marriage

www.younglives.org.uk @YLOxford•methodology and research papers•child profiles and photos•e-newsletter•datasets (UK Data Archive)

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