[Investigation on birth desires of couples of childbearing age in Hongsheng and three other villages conforming to consideration conditions for the second birth]

Renkou Yanjiu. 1986 Jan 29:(1):42-4.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

PIP: The opinions of inhabitants of outlying rural areas regarding second births are explored in this report. By means of household interviews, it is revealed that 22 households out of 153 (i.e., 14.4%) that are eligible for a second birth usually do not opt for the second birth. In a study that took place in four villages within one county, findings showed that desire for a second birth is determined in large part by the sex of the firstborn, males being preferred to females. Moreover, this desire decreases in proportion to time in that the elegible married couple often realizes the economic benefit of having only one child after the first child's birth and chooses not to have a second one. Similarly, many low-income couples would like to have a second child but find that it is not within their economic means. Mid-range income couples often want a second child as well. However, it is generally the couples with higher income that choose to remain with only one child. The desire for a male child is quite strong in the People's Republic of China, especially in rural areas. The fact that the male carries on the family name is very important in most people's opinion, as is the fact that a son has the potential to increase the family's income through manual labor. Thus, the inhabitants of rural areas traditionally favor male children.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Asia
  • Asia, Eastern
  • Attitude*
  • Behavior*
  • China
  • Data Collection*
  • Demography
  • Developing Countries
  • Family Characteristics*
  • Family Relations
  • Income
  • Nuclear Family*
  • Population Characteristics*
  • Population*
  • Psychology
  • Research
  • Rural Population*
  • Sampling Studies
  • Sex*
  • Social Values
  • Socioeconomic Factors