Effect of gender sensitivity on attitudes toward marriage and childbirth among university students in South Korea

Abstract

This research delves into the intricate domain of gender sensitivity, a cognitive process rooted in the awareness of gender equality and the ability to actively endorse and practice it. The study focuses on a cohort of university students on the brink of marriageable and childbearing age, aiming to scrutinize the potential influence of gender sensitivity on their attitudes towards marriage and childbirth. Employing a convenience sampling method, 196 students spanning from first to fourth-year were enlisted as participants. Data were collected through online surveys conducted between April 5 and April 12, 2022. Our findings illuminate that male participants harbor a more affirmative disposition towards both marriage and childbirth compared to their female counterparts. Moreover, a significant positive correlation surfaces between attitudes towards marriage and childbirth. Intriguingly, the study exposes a notable inverse relationship between gender sensitivity and attitudes towards marriage (β = -.49, t = -7.13, p < 0.001) as well as childbirth (β = -.44, t = -6.45, p < 0.001). In light of these revelations, the study underscores the paramount importance of integrating gender sensitivity into strategies aimed at enhancing university students' perspectives on marriage and childbirth. Moreover, it advocates for a policy-oriented approach to ameliorate gender inequality on a societal scale. The study's profound significance lies in its revelation that, in a society lacking in gender sensitivity, the prevalence of marriages and fertility rates may exhibit a negative correlation with gender sensitivity. This underscores the imperative need for sustained governmental efforts to augment gender sensitivity.