Fertility intentions and outcomes in Indonesia: Evolutionary perspectives on sexual conflict. (6th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Snopkowski, Kristin; Nelson, James Joseph
• Is Part Of: Evolutionary human sciences. Volume 3(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05-06
• Subjects: desired fertility -- ideal family size -- sexual conflict -- Indonesia; Human evoluation -- Periodicals; Social evolution -- Periodicals; 599.938
• DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2021.27
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2513-843X

Abstract

Abstract: Abstract: Differential fertility preferences for men and women may provide insights into human sexual conflict. We explore whether pairbonded couples have different preferences for future offspring, which socioecological factors are associated with these preferences, and who achieves their desired fertility over time. We utilise the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS), a longitudinal survey which collected data from 1993 to 2015, to compare desired future fertility for 9655 couples and follow couples who had divergent preferences. The majority of couples (64.8%) want the same number of future offspring. In 20.7% of couples, husbands want more future offspring than their wives, while the reverse occurs in 14.5% of couples. Living in villages with the husband's or the wife's parent(s) is associated with having divergent preferences for future offspring, where there is a higher likelihood that women prefer more offspring than their husbands. When examining fertility outcomes, women, particularly those who marry at older ages, are more likely to achieve their desired preference. Contrary to previous research, we do not find that living near one's natal kin or having increased autonomy increases an individual's likelihood of achieving desired fertility outcomes.