Educational inequality and reproductive autonomy among female students in China: The mediating role of educational attainment in the context of urban-rural disparities

Guohong He

Abstract

Urban–rural educational inequality remains a major structural challenge in China, yet its implications for young women’s reproductive autonomy remain underexplored. This study examined the relationships among educational resource accessibility, perceived educational opportunity equality, school support environment, educational attainment, and reproductive autonomy among female students in China, with educational attainment modeled as a mediator. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among female students aged 15–24 from selected secondary, vocational, and higher education institutions in Gansu, Henan, and Jiangsu provinces of China. A total of 674 valid responses were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. The results showed that educational resource accessibility, perceived educational opportunity equality, and school support environment all positively predicted educational attainment. Educational attainment, in turn, positively predicted reproductive autonomy. The three educational antecedents also had significant direct effects on reproductive autonomy. In addition, educational attainment significantly mediated the relationships between each educational antecedent and reproductive autonomy. These findings suggest that female students’ reproductive autonomy is shaped not only by health-related factors but also by educational conditions and academic development. We conclude that, in the context of urban-rural disparities, promoting reproductive autonomy among young women therefore requires greater attention to educational equity, supportive school environments, and the strengthening of students’ educational progress

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