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Rising Women’s Status, Modernisation and Persisting Son Preference in China

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  • Wang Xiaolei

    (Wang Xiaolei is at the Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China and is also at the College of Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China. E-mail: wxlwmm@126.com)

  • Li Lu

    (Li Lu is at the Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. E-mail: lilu@zju.edu.cn)

  • Zhou Xu Dong

    (Zhou Xu Dong is at the Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. E-mail: zhouzudong@zju.edu.cn)

  • Zhou Chi

    (Zhou Chi is at the Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. E-mail: zhouchi@zju.edu.cn)

  • Liu Wei

    (Liu Wei is at the Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. E-mail: Liuwei@zju.edu.cn)

  • Zheng Wei Jun

    (Zheng Wei Jun is at the Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. E-mail: deardangjun@160.com)

  • Therese Hesketh

Abstract

Evidence from many countries shows that as societies modernise and women’s status rises, son preference declines. Yet in China the sex ratio at birth has been the highest in the world for over two decades despite rapid modernisation, urbanisation and huge improvements in women’s status. This study explored this apparent contradiction through interviews with 212 men and women in urban and rural areas of Zhejiang, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. Results showed that women’s status is perceived as high across a range of factors, including educational attainment and opportunity, labour participation and roles at home and the workplace. The majority of interviewees expressed gender indifference and had clear views about why the sex ratio is persistently high in China. High sex ratios persist probably because, while the majority is essentially gender indifferent, it takes only a small minority undergoing selective abortion to skew the sex ratio.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang Xiaolei & Li Lu & Zhou Xu Dong & Zhou Chi & Liu Wei & Zheng Wei Jun & Therese Hesketh, 2013. "Rising Women’s Status, Modernisation and Persisting Son Preference in China," Indian Journal of Gender Studies, Centre for Women's Development Studies, vol. 20(1), pages 85-109, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:indgen:v:20:y:2013:i:1:p:85-109
    DOI: 10.1177/0971521512465938
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Tin-chi Lin, 2009. "The decline of son preference and rise of gender indifference in Taiwan since 1990," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 20(16), pages 377-402.
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    5. Zhou, Xu Dong & Wang, Xiao Lei & Li, Lu & Hesketh, Therese, 2011. "The very high sex ratio in rural China: Impact on the psychosocial wellbeing of unmarried men," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(9), pages 1422-1427.
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