The Number and Gender of Children and Parental Gender Ideology in China: Income Level, Regional, and Generational Differences

Abstract: The relationship between number of children and parental gender ideology in China has receive much attention in previous research. However, little is known whether this relationship varies by income levels, regions, and generations. Drawing upon the CGSS 2021, this study found that more children usually associates with a more traditional gender ideology, while the extent of this relationship varies by region, income, and generation. Specifically, the relationship between number of children and parental gender ideology is similar across income levels and geographic locations. However, there is statistically significant variation in this relationship by generation. Compared to individuals born before 1949, all later generations show a stronger effect of number of children on parental gender ideology, and the effect size is the largest for the generation born in the cultural revolution period. This study add nuances to the understanding of how the relationship between fertility structure and gender ideology is moderated by contextual factors and provide important implications for future research.