Exploring The Nexus: Gender Equitable Attitudes & Financial Perceptions of Mexican Adolescents

Introduction: The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between gender equitable attitudes and norms, and gender based financial perceptions among adolescent boys and girls in Mexico. This evaluation is part of a larger Girl Rising Financial Education Initiative (GR FEI) conducted amongst adolescents in Mexico. Method A quantitative study was conducted including 979 adolescents (boys n = 385, girls n = 589) at baseline. Gender equitable attitudes and norms were measured using a scale consisting of 3 subdomains (roles/privileges/restrictions, gender attributes and gender violence) and gender based financial perceptions were measured using a vignette. Results Multivariate Linear regression analyses revealed that positive gender based financial perceptions were associated with significantly higher gender equitable attitudes after adjusting for sociodemographic differences. Girls reported significantly higher gender equitable attitudes when compared to boys (Model 1: β = 0.240, 95% CI [0.218, 0.347], p < 0.001). Conclusion Introducing financial education initiatives at an early age can shape the way young people interact with money. It not only improves overall literacy but also reinforces the idea that financial literacy and decision-making are not limited by gender.