Sex Preference for Children and Chinese Fertility in America

Abstract

Using 5 % PUMS data of the 1990 and 2000 Censuses, this study for the first time examines Chinese-American sex preference for children and its effects on their fertility behavior, in comparison with Whites. This study also explores the correlation between son preference and its determinants. A strong Confucian heritage distinguishes Chinese-Americans from the predominantly White-Christian culture, and generate more difficulties for them to acculturate to American life in comparison with Europeans, and even with other minority groups such as Blacks and Hispanics. Thereby, a research in this field, which has been never done before, would be of particular interests not only to demographers but also to scholars in other disciplines.

Offspring sex preference affects people’s fertility behavior when they need to decide whether another birth is necessary after the first one. Focusing on effects of the sex composition of previous children on the likelihood progressing to a next birth, we discover that while Chinese-Americans prefer a gender balance like Whites, they do show a strong son preference. The effects of the preference are insignificant on the second birth, but visible at higher parities.

Educational attainments play a primary role in depressing the impact of son preference. However, it by no means indicates an absence of the preference among the well-educated Chinese, especially when it comes to making decisions on later births. This research has shown that the American-born Chinese, who have greatly integrated with the dominant culture, have eventually separated themselves from Chinese traditions in terms of son preference. In comparison, the foreign-born Chinese or immigrants still display a strong son preference. This finding to certain degree gives support to the assimilation hypothesis. The role played by age should be explained carefully. The influence of son preference grows up with increasing age. On the one hand, it may reflect differing attitudes towards traditions across age groups. The younger Chinese are more open to new ideas, while the older ones do not want to break with the old world. On the other, it may simply illustrate a fact that son preference is more effective on high-order births, which used to occur at the later stages of childbearing. When approaching the end space of childbearing, the older Chinese feel more pressures from ethnic traditions and therefore decide to have another birth in hopes of having at least one son. Generally, women aged 40–44 have completed their childbearing. And their reproductive behavior would be more representative than the younger group’s.

Son preference will continue to influence Chinese reproductive behavior positively since it helps to prevent further fertility decline. Yet, the impact of the preference has been diminishing since 1990 as observed in this study. Son preference takes effects mainly on childbirth at higher parities. Those with final births beyond two children made up only 19 % of the total Chinese families in the 2000 census. That is to say, son preference works essentially on a small range of Chinese families with two or more than two previous children as only girls. These factors along with Chinese achievement in education and difficulties in the immigration process further contribute to the low fertility of the Chinese in America.