We investigate maternal attitudes about gender equity and their relationship to
educational expectations for sons and daughters in rural China using a survey of 2000
mothers and children in Gansu Province. Our findings suggest that most mothers hold
egalitarian attitudes in terms of gender equity, but most expect future support from sons.
Mothers’ own attitudes about gender equity, their expectations of future support, and their
children’s past educational achievements predict their educational aspirations for their
children. Interestingly, gender biases in aspirations appear more pronounced among
mothers of mediocre students – mothers seem to be more forgiving of the mediocre academic
performance of sons relative to daughters.