Marriage and Fertility Preferences among Young Women in China: Changes over Time

• In Event: 4367 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 3. Gender, Marriage, and Family

Abstract

China has undergone considerable social and economic change over recent decades and, more recently, has altered its fertility policies. Using data from recent surveys of Chinese college students, this study examines the contextual factors associated with young women’s marriage and fertility preferences. The analyses demonstrate that, over recent years, young women express a significant preference for later ages at first marriage, fewer numbers of children, and a later age at first birth. Pro-natalist attitudes and gender role attitudes are shown to have strong associations with both marriage and fertility aspirations in recent years. Peer influence is shown to be significantly associated with marriage preferences, while parental characteristics are shown to significantly influence fertility preferences. While individual traits such as school performance yield significant associations, such effects are not as strong as anticipated. The results are discussed within the developmental paradigm, with focus upon the potential influence of cultural globalization and changing Chinese gender roles.

Authors

• Sampson Lee Blair, SUNY-Buffalo

• Timothy Madigan, Mansfield University