Page 78 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Low fertility intentions in China

(Preis et al., 2020). Biological factors, including age, over socioeconomic or educational reasons in influencing
miscarriages, and infertility, are also critical determinants lifestyle decisions for smaller family sizes.
of childlessness (Bodin et al., 2021). Delaying parenthood Third, although researchers have employed both
beyond optimal reproductive age, often due to the use of qualitative and quantitative research approaches to
contraception, can result in involuntary childlessness examine fertility intentions, there is a dearth of research
(Gomez et al., 2014). that solely focuses on qualitative approaches to harness
China’s population policies, particularly the one- social media data. Prior research has primarily focused on
child policy, have left a long-lasting impact on fertility physical-world populations, and there is a lack of studies
intentions. Decades of population control measures that utilize social media data to examine fertility intentions
fostered a preference for smaller families, a trend that in China. Social norms could influence research samples
continues despite policy relaxations (Zhenzhen et al., obtained from the physical world (Lapinski & Rimal,
2009). Even recent policies promoting larger families, such 2005). In contrast, according to Christopherson (2007), the
as the two-child and three-child policies, have struggled to relative anonymity provided by online platforms can lead
overcome ingrained social norms and economic barriers to more honest and uninhibited discussions about personal
(Yang et al., 2023). intentions and decisions. Besides, expanding the range
Despite extensive research on fertility intentions, of research subjects to include online communities can
gaps remain. Our literature review concluded that three greatly enhance our understanding of fertility intentions
aspects of the present research on fertility intentions in China.
in China necessitate improvement. First, contradictory 2. Data and methods
findings across studies highlight the need for a clearer
understanding on this subject. Second, our review of 2.1. RTA
socioeconomic and educational factors discovered This study adopted a philosophical stance that aligned
literature that recognizes the role of lifestyle decisions as with the interpretivism paradigm, which asserts that social
mediators in the relationship between socioeconomic or reality is subjective, multiple, and socially constructed
educational factors and fertility intentions. However, there (Bevir & Blakely, 2018). This belief prompted the
is insufficient understanding about the extent to which researchers to recognize the importance of understanding
lifestyle decisions may be the primary sources of influence, social phenomena from the perspectives of the subjects.
as opposed to being an intermediary process. This philosophy aligns with the qualitative approach that
Our review found two relevant articles in Riemer and adheres to the rigor of RTA, as outlined by Braun and
Whelpton’s (1955) and Campbell et al.’s (2013) studies. Clarke (2022). For this reason, we characterize our study
Campbell et al.’s (2013) suggest that freedom has a greater as RTA research.
influence on fertility decline than improved wealth and Although this study – a “research into online
education, which appears to support the importance of communities” – could be characterized as netnography, we
freedom in fertility discourse. However, the focus of this cautiously opted against this classification. Kozinets (2015),
freedom was not on personal values on individual lifestyle a proponent of netnography, advocates for a higher level of
decisions, such as prioritizing self-enrichment. Rather, engagement with this method. This study acknowledges the
it underscored women’s liberation from unwarranted inherent polysemic nature of this classification. The term
limitations on contraception and safe abortion, perceived originated from a fusion of the internet and ethnography,
as manifestations of patriarchal control. Riemer and with an ethnography approach that relies heavily on
Whelpton’s (1955) study confirms that couples with
children, experiencing a sense of personal freedom participatory observation at its core. Since this study has
restriction or interference, seek fertility control and less engagement than Kozinets (2015) has recommended,
we prudently refrained from identifying our research
smaller families. Their research aligns with the theoretical method as netnography.
framework, which suggests that individuals who place
a higher value on themselves in their value hierarchies Furthermore, despite the rudimentary definitional
and aspire to achieve their full potential may require a differences between content analysis and thematic analysis
degree of personal freedom beyond what childcare can (TA), people often understand and use the two terms
offer. However, due to insufficient research, it remains interchangeably, leading to ambiguity (Humble & Mozelius,
uncertain to what extent an individual’s personal values, 2022). One discernible difference is the plausibility
such as a preference for personal freedom or a strong of quantifiable measures by content analysis (i.e., the
emphasis on personal development, may take precedence possibility of reaching a theme based on the frequency of its

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 72 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.5124