Fertility and the COVID-19 crisis: do gender roles really matter?

Abstract

The recent COVID crisis has had many consequences on social life. This paper focuses on potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility intentions. We employ a theoretical approach, analysing the nexus between fertility and the COVID crisis through the lens of gender roles. The purpose of our analysis is to frame the theoretical paths and to prepare a background for further in-depth analysis based on empirical data. We show that biological reduction of fertility is less likely to occur but that behavioural mechanisms in couple's decision-making will drive the impact on fertility intentions. The health emergency, economic crisis and social distancing will lead to an adjustment of fertility behaviour, while gender roles and social values will moderate the impact of the pandemic.

Perceived consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and childbearing intentions in Poland

“…In comparison with the Spanish flu, SARS, MERS or Ebola, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has a relatively low mortality rate and affects mainly the vulnerable segments of population: elderly people or patients with co-morbidities (Dowd et al, 2020). It seems that COVID-19 does not have a big impact on the health of women of reproductive ages or on child mortality, which could lead to a rapid decline of fertility rates during the pandemic and to possible compensation behaviours afterwards (Voicu & Bădoi, 2020). However, apart from its biological impact on people, the epidemic causes serious social and economic disruption (Voicu & Bădoi, 2020), which might also have a marked impact on people's childbearing choices (Aassve et al, 2020).…”

“…It seems that COVID-19 does not have a big impact on the health of women of reproductive ages or on child mortality, which could lead to a rapid decline of fertility rates during the pandemic and to possible compensation behaviours afterwards (Voicu & Bădoi, 2020). However, apart from its biological impact on people, the epidemic causes serious social and economic disruption (Voicu & Bădoi, 2020), which might also have a marked impact on people's childbearing choices (Aassve et al, 2020).…”

“…In the USA, the severity of the current economic downturn has been compared to the Great Depression of the 1930s (Galea & Abdalla, 2020). As economic uncertainty was discussed to be detrimental to fertility, the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 is likely to markedly contribute to this effect (Aassve et al, 2020;Voicu & Bădoi, 2020).…”

“…This may be the reason for the current reluctance to have children (Hall et al, 2020;Lindberg et al, 2020). In addition, some people may decide to postpone a pregnancy because they are afraid that they themselves or their close ones might get sick (Voicu & Bădoi, 2020).…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Fertility behaviour and Intentions in the Republic of Moldova

“…The puzzle presented is a complex one with multiple influences on the fertility intention and behaviour of individuals. Attempts have been made to conceptualize this and produce more precise workable hypotheses but these again focus on high income countries (Voicu and Bȃdoi 2020). Whilst fertility data for 2020 will soon reveal the short-term impact of the pandemic on fertility, the aim here is to examine the role played by these competing causal pathways in shaping fertility behaviour at the individual level in a middle-income country such as the Republic of Moldova.…”