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Cited by 1,154Gender, Labor, and Family DynamicsFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsDemographic Trends and Gender Preferences

Gender Equity in Theories of Fertility Transition

McDonald, Peter·2000·Population and Development Review
DOI 10.1111/j.1728-4457.2000.00427.x
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Abstract

Recent theoretical discussion has postulated that low fertility in advanced countries is attributable to low levels of gender equity. Low gender equity is evidenced in the lack of support for women to combine paid employment and childrearing; tax‐transfer systems that remain based on the male‐breadwinner model of the family; and the retention of gender‐oriented roles within the family. Hence, it is argued that an increase in gender equity is a precondition of a rise in fertility from very low levels. At the same time, theorists argue that, in less developed countries, higher levels of gender equity are a necessary condition for achieving lower fertility. The article addresses this apparent contradiction by distinguishing two types of gender equity: gender equity in individual‐oriented institutions and gender equity in family‐oriented institutions. The argument is made that the transition from very high fertility to replacement‐level fertility has been associated with a gradual increase in gender equity primarily within the family itself. In contrast, the further movement to very low fertility is associated with a rapid shift toward high levels of gender equity in individual institutions such as education and market employment, in combination with persistent low levels of gender equity within the family and in family‐oriented institutions.

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  • Greater gender equity within the family will have the strongest fertility-promoting effect among highly educated women because of their greater opportunity costs when their involvement in paid work is restricted.

    “All of these theories imply that greater gender equity within the family will have the strongest fertility-promoting effect among highly educated women because of their greater opportunity costs when their involvement in paid work is restricted.”

    From Education, Gender, and Cohort Fertility in the Nordic Countries (2019) · cites this paper as McDonald 2000

  • Theories on gender and fertility suggest a decline in fertility with women's rising participation in education and employment, which would make women dually burdened with paid work and care of their families.

    “Theories on gender and fertility development have suggested a decline in fertility with women’s rising participation in education and employment, which would make women dually burdened with paid work and care of their families.”

    From Education, Gender, and Cohort Fertility in the Nordic Countries (2019) · cites this paper as McDonald 2000

  • If men take more caring responsibilities and share family work more equally with their partners, fertility levels may be maintained or even increase.

    “Scholars further argue that if men take more caring responsibilities and share family work more equally with their partners, fertility levels may be maintained or even increase (McDonald 2000; Neyer et al. 2013; Esping-Andersen and Billari 2015; Goldscheider et al. 2015; Anderson and Kohler 2015).”

    From Education, Gender, and Cohort Fertility in the Nordic Countries (2019) · cites this paper as McDonald 2000

  • Many scholars argue that gendered associations between education and fertility are weakening or reversing, mostly due to changing gender relations in the public and private spheres.

    “Many scholars argue that these gendered associations are weakening or even reversing. This is mostly attributed to changing gender relations in the public and private spheres (McDonald 2000; Esping-Andersen and Billari 2015; Goldscheider et al. 2015; Anderson and Kohler 2015).”

    From Education, Gender, and Cohort Fertility in the Nordic Countries (2019) · cites this paper as McDonald 2000

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Authors
McDonald, P.
Affiliations
Australian National University (AU)
Corresponding author
McDonald, Peter
ORCID
McDonald, Peter
Venue
Population and Development Review
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2000-09
Volume
26
Issue
3
Pages
427-439
ISSN
  • 0098-7921 (ISSN-L)
  • 1728-4457
DOI
10.1111/j.1728-4457.2000.00427.x
OpenAlex
W2089778123
Cited by
1,154
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 59 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 51 · 2023: 63 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 102 · 2020: 67 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 69 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 42 · 2012: 49
FWCI
28.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 1243 d)
Locations
  • Population and Development Review (publishedVersion)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences
Keywords
gender equity, fertility transition, low fertility, male breadwinner model, work-family balance, tax and transfer system, gender roles, replacement-level fertility, fertility decline

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