Speeding up for a son in Turkey

Abstract

ABSTRACT Son preference is known to influence fertility decisions, but very little is known about the prevalence of son preference in Turkey and its consequences for fertility behaviours. We use data from five waves of the Demographic and Health Survey and the Survey on Income and Living Conditions to show that son preference results in differential stopping behaviours and shorter birth spacing. Despite many public reforms promoting gender equality in Turkey, women and children are put at risk in the quest for a son. This result holds in all regions, in both urban and rural areas, and across the socio-economic spectrum.