Gender Construction and Fertility: Exploring the Relationship between Socioeconomic Conditions and Family Size

Suharnanik Suharnanik; Mohammad  Suud; Yudi Harianto Cipta Utama; Victoria Rani Deviana; Maria Taurayana Florensia Riberu

doi:10.63922/ijevss.v5i04.6834

Suharnanik Suharnanik Sociology Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
Mohammad Suud Social Welfare Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
Yudi Harianto Cipta Utama Social Welfare Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
Victoria Rani Deviana Sociology Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya
Maria Taurayana Florensia Riberu Sociology Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Wijaya Kusuma Surabaya

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i04.6834

Keywords: gender construction, fertility, poverty, women, family

Abstract

This study examines the construction of gender and fertility, focusing on the relationship between socioeconomic conditions, reproductive decision-making, and family multiplicity in Surabaya. The research is motivated by the fact that fertility decisions are influenced not only by economic considerations but also by gender norms, partner relationships, cultural values, and women's bargaining power within the family. The study used a mixed methods approach, collecting data through questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, with the criteria being married women, residing in Surabaya, and having more than two children. The initial data collection involved six women with three to four children. Quantitative analysis was conducted descriptively, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis based on a sociological gender perspective. The results showed that the decision to have many children was not always a woman's initial preference. Some respondents stated that they wanted two children but later had an unplanned third or fourth child. Husbands or partners were the most frequently mentioned parties in the decision to have many children. Furthermore, 83.3% of respondents cited the value of "many children, much fortune" as a factor influencing fertility decisions. The findings show that the relationship between economic conditions and fertility is complex, economics and poverty are not the main determinants, but rather popular cultural values dominate women's decisions to have many children.

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