New analysis of Young Lives’ longitudinal data shows that while girls and boys exhibit similar social and emotional skills in the early years, gender differences widen during late adolescence. This leaves many young women at significant disadvantage as they begin their new working and family lives, particularly in Ethiopia and India.

This report uses Young Lives longitudinal data to examine how gender differences in socioemotional skills emerge throughout adolescence, and the socioeconomic and cultural factors that may explain these gaps in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam.