Gender Differences in Fertility Ideals among Muslim and Non-Muslim Immigrants and Their Children in France

Differences in family values between Muslims and non-Muslims have been widely debated in Europe, but gender differences within Muslims remain less explored. Using survey data from immigrants and children of immigrants in France, this study investigated the gender differences in ideal family size among Muslims and non-Muslims. Poisson regression models show that male Muslim children of immigrants tend to prefer larger families, like their foreign-born parents, and that their female counterparts, like non-Muslim men and women, prefer smaller families. Decomposition analysis shows that differences in education and friendship networks explain only a small part of this gender gap. Notably, religiosity does not explain the gap. Instead, the stronger influence of in-group friendship networks and residential segregation on men’s fertility ideals accounts for most of the observed difference. These findings contribute a gender perspective to acculturation research on family values.