Ethical Dilemmas of Female Fertility under Policy Shifts

Chinas birth rate has dropped quickly, from 1.6 babies per woman in 2016 to 1.09 in 2023. More women of childbearing age are choosing to delay or skip both marriage and motherhood. Fertility is a major issue related to economy, society and family development. Based on care ethics and stakeholder theory, this study explores the ethical dilemmas confronting women under Chinas evolving fertility policies, especially Three-Child Policy. Through semi-participant observation and in-depth interviews with ten women of childbearing age, which reveals the reasons from three dimensions, it is found that workplace discrimination, social norms displayed in family field and social-cultural constraints in whole society together lead to the ethical dilemmas of female fertility. This study improves insights of fertility decision from female individuals by arguing that the current policy shifts and design lack of support and social collaboration.This finding suggests that relevant measures are supposed to be taken under policy shifts to better safeguarding womens reproductive and fair employment rights and enhancing sustainable social development.