An index of gender preference
Ramakumar, R.
Janasamkhya 6(1): 79-92
1988
PMID: 12315561 Document Number: 358888
This paper suggests a new index to measure the acceptance of the gender composition of a family based on contraceptive acceptance rate. Data from the Kerala Fertility Survey are used to calculate the new index. The sex of the living children by order of birth of each currently married woman and her contraceptive status are sufficient to construct the index. Size preference is measured in terms of the % of persons accepting contraception on the assumption that 1 uses contraception when desired family composition is achieved. For this particular sample, it is found that son preference is low. Size preference is stronger than son preference in many cases, though son preference is stronger than daughter preference. Heterogeneity in sex preference was also evident in the sample.