Page 85 - IJPS-11-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Low fertility intentions in China

conceiving. The respondents saw fertility intentions for The remainder of this section will outline some other
higher parity births as being constrained by the fulfillment ancillary preconditions mentioned by the respondents.
of a range of preconditions, including financial stability, Housing unaffordability had emerged under this theme,
housing affordability, a stable relationship or marriage, for which, the respondents gave accounts of the housing-
the social and material means to provide medical care and related concerns:
education, having the first child, and having a good gene Respondent 5:
to pass on. These constraints were demonstrated by the “It’s mainly because the house is too expensive, the
emergence of several sub-factors within this theme, each kid’s meals money has gone to the housing……”
of which underscored different conditions, expectations,
and concerns. Respondent 5 exemplified the concerns on the practical
issue of housing and living environment that some of the
Among the sub-factors, the main unmet precondition respondents consider appropriate and a prerequisite for
was financial conditions. The majority (83.7%) of the raising their children. Based on his account, the formation
threads on this theme cited financial instability as the of fertility intentions cannot be examined in isolation from
major impediment. Material circumstances were seen the affordability of housing, and one’s difficulty with this is
by respondents as a critical benchmark to achieve before constraining his desire for a second child.
having another child. This is demonstrated by the following
quotes: Respondent 6:
“Why? If I get married, I intend to have a second
Respondent 1: child.”
“I’m telling you, I won’t be having another because
I can’t afford it.” Being unmarried also featured in respondents’
accounts of unmet preconditions when responding to
Respondent 2: the reason for low fertility intentions. Respondent 6
“It’s mainly a financial issue. If I have surpluses, I referred to her unmarried status as the reason that had
can have as many children as I want.”
been preventing her from intending to have any children,
Respondents 1 and 2 highlighted concerns about not let alone a second child. The antecedents to this factor
being financially secure enough to have a larger family size. may vary from involuntary singlehood – for which one’s
Respondent 2 acknowledged in his account that he could fertility intention may be constrained by the absence of
have had more children if he had been more comfortable a childbearing partner – to voluntary singlehood – for
with his finances. which one’s fertility intention may be constrained by social
Respondent 3: norms surrounding non-marital childbearing. Although
“I’m poor enough as it is, why should I force myself this study acknowledged these antecedent distinctions
and two kids to suffer together?” between voluntary and involuntary singlehood, it did
not seclude them from the data. Refusal to discern these
The remark made by Respondent 3 emphasized the differences did not invalidate Being unmarried being the
perceived irresponsibility of having a second child during a factor for low fertility intentions, as emerged from our
period of financial difficulties. Respondent 3 was expressing data.
a fear of the potential struggles their kids would face had
she given birth to a second child. The remark implies a Overall, the respondent’s accounts on Unmet
contemplation of the ethical and practical aspects of fertility preconditions suggest that they were keen to appear to
intentions, weighing the responsibility to provide a better have planned and thought through – having various
life against the harsh realities of her financial condition. preconditions in place – before having a second child. And
that the discourse of ‘not meeting these preconditions’, a
Our analysis also found that this sub-factor does subscription to the perceived constraint of parenthood,
reflect the sentiment that financial stability is not merely was cited by respondents in accounting for their low
about affording the cost of raising children but also fertility intentions for a second child.
about maintaining a decent quality of life or aspiring for
a certain lifestyle for the family through financial means, 3.2. Individualistic values orientation limits family
as demonstrated by the following thread by Respondent 4: size
Respondent 4: Our analysis revealed that when asked about their reasons
“I will consider having a child only when I have the for not having a second child, the respondents placed
same financial ability as the bosses, who manage to a significant emphasis on individuality. The theme of
send their children abroad.” Individualistic values orientation emerged from sub-

Volume 11 Issue 3 (2025) 79 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.5124