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Empirical Research on Male Preference in China: A Result of Gender Imbalance in the Seventh Population Census

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  • Yanzhe Zhang

    (Northeast Asian Research Center of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    Northeast Asian Studies College, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    School of Northeast Asia, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China)

  • Bowen Zou

    (Northeast Asian Studies College, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    School of Northeast Asia, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China)

  • Huai Zhang

    (Northeast Asian Studies College, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    School of Northeast Asia, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China)

  • Jian Zhang

    (School of International Economics and International Relations, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110136, China)

Abstract

The Seventh National Population Census, recently conducted in 2020, reported the most up-to-date information on the size, structure, and distribution of China’s population. The results showed that the gender imbalance in China is still severe compared with the international standard. With the aim of understanding what has contributed to China’s gender imbalance, this study examined a range of potential influencing factors and measured the extent to which they have affected China’s sex structure. We gathered data from 3100 citizens (100 surveys from each provincial-level administrative region in mainland China); the useful response rate was 87.5% (2713/3100). We relied on statistical analysis to investigate the phenomenon of male preference in China and used a logit regression to analyze the factors associated with this result. We inspected the factors associated with the perception according to gender, age, annual income, living location, educational level, nationality, family contribution, the ideology of being supported by sons, social status, ability to generate money, and carrying on the family name. The results showed that, among these factors, the relationship of family contribution, the ideology of being supported by sons, and carrying on the family name with male preference was significant. This study is among the first to explore the factors affecting male preference that could have resulted in China’s gender imbalance. The findings of this research are also important as references for the development of the population strategy and policy instruments used to manage the demographic problems in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanzhe Zhang & Bowen Zou & Huai Zhang & Jian Zhang, 2022. "Empirical Research on Male Preference in China: A Result of Gender Imbalance in the Seventh Population Census," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6482-:d:824833
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ruixia Song & Shuzhuo Li & Marcus W. Feldman, 2021. "Public Participation and Governance Performance in Gender-Imbalanced Central Rural China: The Roles of Trust and Risk Perception," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, June.
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