Gender and Generational Family Change: A Factorial Survey Experiment

Chen Peng, Bocconi University
Arnstein Aassve, Bocconi University
Alicia Adsera , Princeton University
Letizia Mencarini, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy

This study investigates the evolving dynamics of family ideals in the face of low fertility, changing partnership structures, and the rise in women’s education across eight industrialized countries. Drawing on key theoretical concepts such as the second demographic transition and the gender revolution, we incorporate insights from social psychology theory to investigate the transformation of family preferences through an intergenerational identity perspective. To elucidate the multifaceted nature of family choices, we employ an innovative factorial survey experiment. The study utilizes vignette representing families that vary across eight factors, including union status, fertility, income level, community respect, family communication style, external family contact frequency, gender role, and work-life balance. Our sample encompasses respondents from Italy, Spain, Norway, Japan, Korea, urban China, Singapore, and the USA. These countries differ in their family norms, labor market structures, developmental paths, and to some extent, fertility rates—though all fall below the replacement level. Our findings highlight an identity motivated shift in family ideals, particularly among highly educated women, who actively distinguish their family preferences from the parental generation. They increasingly prioritize family communication, financial stability, and gender equity over traditional markers like marriage and child-rearing. Crucially, we do not find the same transformation among men. This study underscores the interplay between socio-economic development and changing family values, pointing to a distinct intergenerational identity difference, especially among women, a feature likely to have profound implications for future demographic trends.

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 Presented in Session 39. Flash session Values and Attitudes about Family and Gender