The Influence of Supportive Environments for Family on Women’s Fertility Intentions and Behavior

• In Event: 231 - Section on Sociology of Population Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 01.

Abstract

Recent theories of low fertility emphasize the increasing importance of family support for changing gender roles and relations toward egalitarianism. In a context of weak institutional support of families and low levels of gender equity, do family policies influence individual fertility? Moreover, might support from other sources, such as men’s involvement in the family or grandparental childcare assistance, positively influence women’s fertility intentions and behavior? Using data from three waves of the Korean Longitudinal Survey for Women and Families, I examine the impact of family support for childbearing and childrearing from three avenues, including institutions, partners, and parents or in-laws on women’s fertility intentions and behavior concerning second children. Supportive environments for family from three sources indicate stronger positive effects on actual fertility than fertility intentions for second children. Moreover, findings have unique implications for very low fertility in countries with limited and fragmented state support of families.

Author

• Soo-Yeon Yoon, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign