Between reality and ideal: gender equality in the family and fertility in Turkey

Mehmet F. Aysan, Istanbul Sehir University
Amir Erfani, Nipissing University

Along with declining the fertility rate to below-replacement levels in Turkey, especially in Western Anatolia, Turkish society witnesses a drastic transformation in family structure, particularly in regard to gender relationships within the family. Informed by theory of Gender Equity (McDonald, 2000), this study investigates the influence of household gender division of labor and decision making on individual’s actual and ideal number of children. Using Poisson regression analysis and recent data from the 2011 Turkish Family Structure (n= 4,200), we found that fertility preference and behavior of Turkish families can be understood through gender division of labor and decision making, and economic problems within families. Results of this study inform Turkish policy makers who are currently formulating policies to prevent the adverse economic and demographic effects of declining fertility in the country.