Son preference among Filipino Muslims: a causal analysis.

Abstract

The son preference among Muslim women living in the southern island of Mindanao and Sulu in the Philippines was correlated with their religious integration economic status and education. As part of a nationwide survey conducted in 1972 by the Philippine Bureau of the Census a subsample of 153 ever-married women living in rural households on these islands were asked a series of questions about number of children number of sons and number of daughters they would like if they could start married life all over again. These responses were then correlated with the study variables. Mean number of children desired by all respondents was 5.51. Women who attended services once per week or more preferred 5.86; those who attended less 4.56. Household economic status had little effect on preference while women with 4 years 5.83. The same patterns prevailed for mean number of sons and daughters preferred. Highly religious women wanted 3.15 sons less religious 2.28; women with 4 or more years of school wanted 2.48 those with less 3.15; household income made little difference. Number of daughters wanted remained around 2.35-2.70 regardless of variable a difference which was not significant. The results show that although poorer households show a slightly stronger preference for sons than more wealthy ones this difference is not statistically significant. At all income levels sons are seen as making a positive contribution to the family either by carrying on the family name or insuring its social and economic position. High religious integration and low female education status produce a strong preference for sons while the reverse reduces the preference for male offspring. This analysis demonstrates the importance of decomposing overall family-size preference into son and daughter components as well as beginning to disentangle the array of characteristics generally associated with son preference. Also 1/4 of the women had no preference as to sex composition. These women tended to be less religiously integrated poorer and of low educational status. In essence higher religious integration household economic status and female education are associated with defined preferences for sons and daughters.