1. Unpacking ‘Son preference’: the trajectory of a demographic variable Danièle Bélanger, PhD Associate Professor The University of Western Ontario

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3. Questions What is ‘son preference’ in demography? How is the concept constructed?

4. Introduction Review paper Also informed by my research All research investigating the causes or consequences of a parental or societal desire or preference for male children

5. Peer-reviewed articles on sex preference (Population Index, 1986-1999)

7. What is son preference? Encompassing term Underlying assumptions of the term Causes, manifestations, consequences

8. Son preference as a determinant of fertility Independent variable of fertility ‘Traditional’ behavior Should disappear with ‘modernization’

9. MANIFESTATIONS OF SON PREFERENCE FERTILITY Fertility behavior Fertility ntentions Contraceptive behavior Contraceptive intentions SEX RATIOS By age groups Mortality

10. Son preference as a determinant of health and mortality Differential treatment Focus on the family environment Lack of context

11. Son preference as a reminder that culture matters 1990s: clash between low fertility and desire for sons Missing girls

12. CONSEQUENCES Gender-based discrimination Prenatal Sex selective abortions Missing daughters/ Skewed sex ratios/ Skewed marriage market Migration/ Trafficking/kindapping Postnatal Differential treatment Health status/ Health outcomes Mortality

13. Causes Economic factors Poverty Cultural factors Culture theory

14. Son preference as having far- reaching consequences Shortage of women Gender inequalities Migration, trafficking, kidnapping Heterogeneity

15. Conclusion Need for more explanations Need for more contextualization Need for incorporation of other dimensions: community, State, policy, global