Changes of sex ratio at birth and son preferences in China: a mixed method study

Abstract

AbstractIn 2020, China’s sex ratio at birth (SRB) stood at 111.3, still exhibiting a notable bias. Son preference ranks as the most essential and fundamental reason for the skewed SRB. This study, using a mixed-methods approach, seeks to address what the temporal changes and regional differences in SRB and the gender preferences are in China, whether and why son preference persists, how people practice such preferences and how they relate to the persistently high SRB in the Chinese context. Analysis of data from five national sample surveys finds that son preference is waning and daughter preference is gaining momentum, consistent with significant downward trends in SRB. The study also reveals that value shifts and intergenerational relations have a strong influence on gender preferences and their translation into reproductive behavior. Additionally, this study highlights the challenges that are hindering the decline in son preference, suggesting that more efforts are needed to empower women and to change social norms.