Gender Discrimination in Fertility and Family Raring in the Contemporary Chinese Family

Abstract

In contemporary China, gender discrimination remains common in the context of childbearing and family raring, particularly in rural areas. Despite social progress, the traditional son preference continues to influence when families make decisions, resulting in insufficient investment in the education and family investment of girls. Gender discrimination and gender equality is a significant area of research in the present era. The study indicates that there has been some progress in addressing the underlying causes of gender discrimination in the country. However, there is a lack of consensus on the specific factors contributing to gender discrimination within the family, particularly about childbearing and family upbringing. This study aims to elucidate the manifestations of gender discrimination in reproductive attitudes, family educational investments, and parenting styles, and to analyze the impact of these factors on children's emotional, social, and academic development. Accordingly, this paper examines sexism in fertility attitudes and family parenting by synthesizing and analyzing existing literature. The findings demonstrate that gender discrimination not only affects girls' educational opportunities and mental health but also has adverse consequences for mothers. To promote greater attention to gender equality at the familial and societal levels, this paper puts forth policy interventions and cultural shifts that could facilitate more equitable family-rearing and educational environments.