Gender differences in Italian children’s capabilities

Children well-being is analyzed in this paper using the capability approach with a special focus on gender differences. The capabilities analyzed are senses imagination and thought, and play. We estimate a Structural Equation Model where the two capabilities are defined as latent variables intrinsically interrelated. For each of these capabilities, a set of indicators of functionings is utilized and the effects of individual and social conversion factors are analyzed. The model is applied to Italian girls and boys aged between six and 10 in 2008. For both boys and girls, attitudes towards education has the highest weight on the capability of senses, imagination and thought, followed by artistic and other activities. Regarding the capability to play, for both genders, sports come first, followed by role-playing, videogames and playing “house”. The analysis confirms that the two capabilities are interrelated and differences by gender occur in the effect of conversion factors.