An investigation of variance in fertility due to sex related differentiation in child rearing practices

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify individual variableswhich intervene between indirect and direct determinants offertility. Specifically, the impact of sex-differentiated child-rearingand its personality/attitudinal consequences on fertility behaviorwere investigated. The variables of special concern in a chain ofcausation leading to fertility were sex-related differentiation inchild-rearing practices; the personality characteristics of sex-roleidentification, self-esteem, and relationship with the spouse; andage at marriage and contraceptive use as the direct detrminants offertility. Sex-related differentiation in child-rearing was operationalizedas the degree of difference perceived by daughters inparents' child-rearing practices which were applied to thedaughters themselves and their brothers.The participants in the study were 75 middle socio-economicstatus women classified into the high or the low fertility groupaccording to the number of their children. A main interviewfollowed by the Sex-Trait Stereotype Measure and Self-EsteemInventory were conducted with each respondent.Results provided support for integrating sex differentiation inchild-rearing practices in the chain between indirect determinantsand fertility. Sex differentiated child-rearing was found to besignificantly related to the number of children. Other variablessignificantly related to fertility were feminine sex-role identificationand power in relationship with the spouse. However, specificconnections in relation to personality characteristics of sex-roleidentification and self-esteem were not observed.