Abstract:  There exists marked gender difference of functional limitation incidence among Chinese elderly. Specifically，women are more likely to suffer from difficulties of activity of daily living. This paper intends to explain this puzzle from the perspective of family human capital investment with the son preference that results in gender difference of educational attainment. Cognition is critical for maintaining ac- tivity of daily living and education has a positive effect on cognition at older age. Thus，gender difference in education in early life is transmitted to gender difference of functional limitation in later life. We verify this hypothesis by using CHARLS baseline data and find that cognition，especially the crystallized intelligence part，has an important effect on the reduction of functional limitation impairment rate. With the improvement of girl's education，better health equality can be achieved among older men and women.

Keywords:  Activity of Daily Living, Gender Inequality, Cognition, Son Preference, Ageing

摘要： 中老年人的身体功能障碍发生率存在显著的性别差异，即女性比男性患生活自理能力损伤的比例更大。文章从家庭人力资本投资的性别差异视角解释中老年人生活自理能力的性别差异之谜。在普遍的“儿子偏好”下，家庭教育投资向男孩倾斜，使得女性获得的教育少于男性。由于教育能够起到缓解中老年时期认知老化的作用，而认知状况的退化将增加患身体功能障碍的可能性，性别间的教育差异最终导致中老年群体在生活自理能力上的性别差异。文章基于 CHAＲLS 基线调查数 据证实了上述假说，并且发现认知状况，尤其是认知中的固化智力部分，对于降低生活自理能力损伤具有重要作用。女性教育水平的大幅度提升，有助于实现不同性别中老年人的健康平等。