Gender and Finances in Emerging Adulthood: Sex, Gender, and Inequalities

This chapter will first discuss the difference between sex (i.e., biological) and gender (i.e., a social construct), and how money contributes to "doing gender," with gender-based economic norms, expectations, and behaviors that change over time and from one country to another. Then, it will discuss gender-based economic inequalities (e.g., earnings) that may affect the transition to adulthood. Because one of the salient factors that shape gender-based wealth inequity is financial knowledge, we provide an overview of studies from several countries that show contributing factors to the gender gap in financial knowledge level among young people (i.e., lower for women). After that, we explore gender differences in financial attitudes and behaviors. Finally, we highlight the role that gender stereotypes play in financial flourishing and floundering in emerging adulthood.