Gender disparities in spending habits of Indian youth

What’s in the article?

An analysis of youth spending in India.

Key Finding: Young Indian men enjoy greater monthly allowances, varied discretionary spending options and more social mobility compared to young Indian women.

Youth Spending Stereotypes

How youth spend their money is not only indicative of economic and lifestyle trends, but also of larger social trends.

The charts below show disparities in spending habits of young boys and girls  – young women spend more on clothes and accessories than men, while young men spend more on gadgets, fuel and clubbing.  

This disparity is usually seen from a stereotypical point of view – girls spend on shopping & boys spend on gadgets/cars/parties. Lack of spending among young girls for fuel/gas, visiting pubs/clubs and even going to the movies is considered acceptable.

The truth, however, is that spending categories where young men dominate are considered unfit for a young woman. The role of woman in public life is restricted from a young age as young men benefit from increased mobility in their life early on.

Young men get higher monthly allowance

A 2011 MTV survey on the spending habits of urban Indian Youth reveals financial inequality among men & women starts early on with family allowances.

51% of young men receive a monthly allowance less than Rs. 3000 compared to 65% of young women.

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Spending categories reveal Social Freedom

The data highlights the plight of 18-24 year old young women in India. Lack of freedom to venture out on their own or even with friends can be seen as fewer women spend more than Rs.1000 a month on Fuel (24%), Pubs & Clubs (14%) and Watching movies (5%) compared to young men (30%, 25% and 11% respectively).

Young Indian men are more likely to own their own form of vehicle (car or motorbike) compared to young Indian women. Young women in India have responded to lower ownership of vehicles by opting for public transportation. Twice as many women (14%) spend more than Rs 1000 a month on public means of commute such as taxis and auto rickshaws compared to men (7%).

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The survey was conducted among the most affluent and educated demographic living in Indian cities and shows how far the country is from achieving true gender equality.

You can get the data and hi-resolution charts here.