Son Preference in China: Why is it Stronger in Rural Areas?

Lei, Lei; Pals, Heili

doi:10.1353/prv.2011.0013

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Desire for male children was prevalent among respondents with low socio-economic status (OR 7.64 [95 percent,, Pvalue 0.000]), who rely on their male children's income in old age, which is the tradition of Pakistani society. These results are also consistent with other study results (Lei & Pals, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

“…A study in China stated similar findings, correlating a participant's lower level of education with a higher prevalence of son preference (Bharati et al, 2011). Studies from China have, however, also shown a decline in son preference and gender-biased behavior, as well as an increase in literacy and an improvement in the population's socioeconomic condition (Lei & Pals, 2011). There is a need for government intervention to introduce strong policies to work on improving the literacy rate of females and to provide awareness of the importance of providing proper nutrition and health care for daughters and women via local and district health clinics, television advertisements, and print media.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

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Quantifying and Evaluating Male Child Preference in Pakistan

Zaidi¹,

Zafar²,

Ali³

et al. 2022

CMUJASR

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Preference for male over female children is entrenched in many Asian and African countries. This can result in premature mortality of female babies, an increase in the number of young unmarried males, an excalation in violence, antisocial behavior and frustration due to a lack of females. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of desire for male children among the general population of parents in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a Karachi public sector hospital with 300 participants selected through convenience sampling. Data was analyzed using statistical software and the chi-square test and logistic regression was used to determine the outcome variable and associated risk factors. Of the 300 participants, 53.3 percent of study participants were in the age group of 18–30 years. The preference for male and female children was 37.5 percent and 23.9 percent, respectively. The overall son preference index was 1.94; showing a strong preference toward sons. After adjustment of covariates, the age group of 18–30 years and those of lower and middle socioeconomic class significantly preferred male over female children. Participants in general showed interest in both male and female children, but there was a stronger desire for a male child, showing a deeply rooted cultural mindset. The approach of parents towards females should be changed in order to eliminate existing omnipresent discrimination against female children. Keywords: Male child prevalence, Male child desire, Female child, inequality.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Quantifying and Evaluating Male Child Preference in Pakistan

Zaidi¹,

Zafar²,

Ali³

et al. 2022

CMUJASR

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“…One troubling finding is that girls in China are less resilient in the face of different migration experiences, in relation to life satisfaction. A probable explanation for this finding is the Chinese cultural norm that favours boys over girls, especially in rural contexts, where the practice is most prominent (Lei & Pals, ). Given the preference towards male children, boys usually receive more resources and support from their parents, and this does occur in the context of migration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences of migration, parent–child interaction, and the life satisfaction of children in Ghana and China

Cebotari

2018

Population Space and Place

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This study is a pioneer effort to comparatively examine how the life satisfaction of children is influenced by their experiences of migration and by their interactions with parents in two geographical contexts: Ghana and China. It also provides evidence of how these relationships differ across gender groups in the two countries. This study uses survey data collected in 2010 and 2013 from school children and youths aged 11-20 in Ghana (N = 1,622) and China (N = 2,171), respectively. Results indicate that children (a) who previously migrated but returned and currently live with both parents and (b) who currently stay behind and have no previous migration experience are generally less likely to be satisfied with life. On the other hand, greater resilience in the outcome is associated with emotional support from parents. Also, there is suggestive evidence that Chinese girls are more vulnerable to the effects of parental migration and of being, at one point of life, migrant themselves. This evidence is not replicated among Chinese boys. In Ghana, girls of migrant parents without a personal migration experience and boys in non-migrant families who returned from abroad show some degree of vulnerability when assessing their life satisfaction. These findings add nuance to a field of research that has yet to conceptualise the complexity of children's experiences with migration and the way this complexity associates with child well-being.

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“… 1 See, e.g., Croll 2000; Eklund 2011a; Murphy, Tao and Lu 2011; Jin, Li and Feldman 2007; Lei and Pals 2011. …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Son Preference Reconfigured? A Qualitative Study of Migration and Social Change in Four Chinese Villages

Eklund¹

2015

The China Quarterly

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Drawing from ethnographic data from 48 households in four villages in rural Anhui, this study explores how two practices known for upholding son preference are affected by rural-urban out-migration, with a particular focus on the division of labour in agricultural work and patrilocality. The study deploys the concepts of intergenerational contract and the "unsubstitutability" of sons and finds that a weakening of the intergenerational contract can take place without substantially challenging the unsubstitutability of sons. The study concludes that although male out-migration undermines the argument that sons are needed to secure male manual labour in family farming, the vital role of male labour as a rural livelihood strategy largely persists. Moreover, although the study identifies migration-induced exceptions, patrilocality remains the main organizing principle for social and economic life for both male and female migrants. Hence, the study finds little support for the prospect that migration is attenuating son preference in rural China.

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Son Preference in China: Why is it Stronger in Rural Areas?

Cited by 15 publications

References 16 publications

Quantifying and Evaluating Male Child Preference in Pakistan

Quantifying and Evaluating Male Child Preference in Pakistan

Experiences of migration, parent–child interaction, and the life satisfaction of children in Ghana and China

Son Preference Reconfigured? A Qualitative Study of Migration and Social Change in Four Chinese Villages

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