Fertility Intentions of China-Born Women and Men in Australia

Feier Chen, ANU

Fertility intentions are often influenced by personal, cultural, social and policy contexts. International migration serves as a locational and cultural transition process, reflecting different fertility patterns according to different countries of birth and migration experiences. However, there is a limited body of literature that delves explicitly into the fertility intentions of China-born migrants. As such, this research seeks to understand the factors that affect China-born migrants’ fertility intentions in Australia. It also explores whether there are gender differences regarding fertility intentions. The study employs a snowball sampling survey design to collect data from Chinese residents in Australia. It is expected that China-born women exhibited lower fertility intentions than China-born men, potentially due to cultural norms, migration and integration challenges. China-born men are expected to show a greater adherence to Chinese cultural norms than China-born women. Using a regression model, this study intends to reveal that socioeconomic factors such as age, education level, and marital status play significant roles in shaping fertility intentions. These insights will significantly enhance the Chinese community’s broader discourse on reproductive desires, life trajectories, and integration into society.

Keywords: Families, Unions and Households, Fertility, Gender Dynamics, International Migration

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