Re-examination of son-preference based on attitude structure theory under the background of gender imbalance in China

Introduction

The gender imbalance in China has a long history, and the consequences have begun to emerge, threatening sustainable population development. Against the backdrop of a persistently high sex ratio at birth, the paper introduces the theory of attitude structure to construct an analytical framework explaining the influencing factors of son preference and re-examining the son preference culture.

Methods

Based on the micro-level data from Jiangxi, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Shaanxi Province, this paper adopts a binary logistics model to analyzes the impacts of three cognitive factors on son preference.

Results

The results show that surname inheritance, the utility of elderly care, and the social value in the boy utility evaluation are the main influencing factors in the preference for a son. Social gender assessment, perception of gender imbalance, personal income, education level, health status, and the number of existing children individually correlate with son preference. After comparing the two factors of boy utility evaluation and gender imbalance perception, it is discovered that after China enters a gender-imbalanced society, the perception of gender imbalance effectively reduces the preference for sons, and the son preference is the result of rational choice in people's fertility process.

Discussion

Based on the above research, the paper proposes policy recommendations at both macro and micro levels from the standpoint of public governance.

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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.

Addressing the Gender Gap in Research: Insights from a Women in Neuroscience Conference

There has been growing interest in quantifying the proportion of women participating in scientific conferences, publications, and committees. Numbers reveal persistent disparities, but offer few cures to the root causes of the gender gaps in research. Toward remediation, we outline five lessons learned through organizing two conferences for Women in Neuroscience (WiN). These recommendations build on participants' comments, and aim to better support women in their scientific paths and help provide equal opportunity.

Marriage Aspiration, Perceived Marriage Squeeze, and Anomie Among Unmarried Rural Male Migrant Workers in China

Using data from a survey of rural–urban migrants conducted in Xiamen City, China, during 2009, this study explores determinants of anomie among unmarried rural male migrant workers in the context of China’s gender imbalance. Results indicate that the perceived marriage squeeze has exerted direct effects on anomie, and marriage aspiration has indirect effects on anomie among rural male migrant workers. The perceived marriage squeeze also has a mediating effect between marriage aspiration and anomie among unmarried rural male migrant workers. Social integration in the destination city is also a determinant of anomie among these unmarried migrant workers.

Last name analysis of mobility, gender imbalance, and nepotism across academic systems

In biology, last names have been used as proxy for genetic relatedness in pioneering studies of neutral theory and human migrations. More recently, analyzing the last name distribution of Italian academics has raised the suspicion of nepotism, with faculty hiring their relatives for academic posts. Here, we analyze three large datasets containing the last names of all academics in Italy, researchers from France, and those working at top public institutions in the United States. Through simple randomizations, we show that the US academic system is geographically well-mixed, whereas Italian academics tend to work in their native region. By contrasting maiden and married names, we can detect academic couples in France. Finally, we detect the signature of nepotism in the Italian system, with a declining trend. The claim that our tests detect nepotism as opposed to other effects is supported by the fact that we obtain different results for the researchers hired after 2010, when an antinepotism law was in effect.

Gender Imbalance and Terrorism in Developing Countries

This article investigates whether gender imbalance may be conducive to domestic terrorism in developing countries. A female-dominated society may not provide sufficient administration, law, or order to limit domestic terrorism, especially since societies in developing countries primarily turn to males for administration, policing, and paramilitary forces. Other economic considerations support female imbalance resulting in grievance-generated terrorism. Because male dominance may also be linked to terrorism, empirical tests are ultimately needed to support our prediction. Based on panel data for 128 developing countries for 1975 to 2011, we find that female gender imbalance results in more total and domestic terrorist attacks. This female gender imbalance does not affect transnational terrorism in developing countries or domestic and transnational terrorism in developed countries. Further tests show that gender imbalance affects terrorism only when bureaucratic institutions are weak. Many robustness tests support our results.

[Demographic Aspects of Population Aging in Saint-Petersburg at the End of XX-the beginning of XXI Century. Part II. Prospective Aging Measures.]

The paper is the second part of the series of two articles on demographic aspects of population aging in Saint-Petersburg in 1990-2010/2014 compared to the situation in the Russian Federation as a whole. In the first part, the situation with population aging in Saint-Petersburg and Russia was considered based on traditional aging measures. In the second part, a number of prospective aging measures that take account of remaining life expectancy are studied, such as Prop. RLE 15 (proportion of population with remaining life expectancy 15 years or less), POADR (prospective old-age dependency ratio), population average remaining years of life (PARIL). Prospective aging indicators are compared with their traditional analogues. Gender imbalance of prospective aging measures has been considered.

On the Relationship Between the Marriage Squeeze and the Quality of Life of Rural Men in China

China is facing a male marriage squeeze, as there are more men in the marriage market than potential female partners. As a consequence, some men may fail to ever marry. However, while some studies have suggested that most unmarried men affected by the marriage squeeze in rural China feel a sense of failure, the quality of life of the men who remain unmarried against their will remains largely unexplored. Using data collected in rural Hanbin district of Ankang City (Shaanxi, China), this study analyzes the relationship between the marriage squeeze and the quality of life among rural men. Descriptive analyses indicate that the quality of life of unmarried men aged 28 years and older tends to be worse than for both younger unmarried men and married men. Also, the quality of life of men who perceive the marriage squeeze appears to be worse than that of those who do not. Regression analyses reveal that the perceived marriage squeeze and age independently have a significant negative relationship with the quality of life of rural men.

[Demographic aspects of population aging in Saint-Petersburg at the end of XX-the beginning of XXI century. Part I. Conventional aging measures]

The paper represents the first part of the series of two articles on demographic aspects of population aging in Saint-Petersburg in 1990-2010 compared to the situation in the Russian Federation as a whole. In the first part, the situation with the population aging in Saint-Petersburg and Russia is considered based on traditional aging measures - the proportion of elderly in the total population, aging index, old age dependency rate and the parents support ratio. In the second part, a number of prospective aging indicators that take account of remaining life expectancy, will be studied. The analysis also includes the consideration of gender imbalance of aging indicators. Accelerating of population aging in Saint-Petersburg and Russia leads to a new demographic situation requiring a number of economic and socially oriented measures.

Social Management of Gender Imbalance in China: A Holistic Governance Framework

Since the 1980s, the sex ratio at birth (abbreviated as SRB) in China has been rising and has remained extremely high. With rapid social transition, gender imbalance has become one of the most significant issues of China's social management and has raised many problems and challenges. Innovation in the management principles and public policies of social management urgently needs a new perspective of holistic governance framework. Based on the latest trends in gender imbalance, using data from China's 2010 Population Census, this paper firstly reviews China's strategic policy responses and actions concerning the governance of the male-skewed SRB. With holistic governance theory, we focus on China's "Care for Girls" campaign to analyze the current public policy system. This paper then reveals fragmentation in the current management of China's gender imbalance. Finally we propose a social management framework for addressing China's gender imbalance. The public system needs to be strengthened, and the Chinese government should focus more on vulnerable groups such as forced bachelors in rural areas, and try to bring those groups into the policy framework for governance of gender imbalance. The proposed theoretical framework may help Chinese governments at various levels to design and implement improved social management of gender imbalance issues.