The Gender Allowance Gap

Could there really be a “gender gap” between what boys and girls earn for allowance? A recent survey showed that in U.S. families, boys are paid twice as much allowance as girls for doing weekly chores. According to the research, boys averaged more allowance than girls in part because they were more often assigned chores that are more physically challenging, including tasks like cutting the grass and bushes. Girls were more often paid for jobs such as cleaning the toilet, loading the dishwasher or sweeping floors. Boys also earned more money because they were paid for jobs girls were not paid for at all, including showering, and brushing and flossing their teeth.

This lesson provides an opportunity for elementary students to learn about the gender allowance gap, reflect on why this is the case and express their knowledge and thoughts about it through a persuasive letter.