Women's lives and rapid fertility decline: Some lessons from Bangladesh and Egypt

Abstract

In some of the more traditional parts of the world, fertility is falling steadily, sometimes rapidly, in environments where women's lives remain severely constrained. The recent experiences of Bangladesh and Egypt, both predominantly Muslim countries, are illustrative in this regard. Since the late 1970s, rural and urban areas in both countries have experienced steady declines in fertility, with recent declines in rural Bangladesh similar to those in rural Egypt, despite lower levels of development and higher rates of poverty. This paper provides an in-depth exploration of the demographic transition in these two societies as seen through the dual lens of society-wide gender systems and a range of relevant state policies. It addresses three basic questions: (1) have measurable improvements in economic opportunities for women been a factor in the fertility decline in either country?; (2) have differences in gender systems at the societal level provided a more favorable environment for fertility decline in Bangladesh in comparison to Egypt, despite the former's more modest economic achievements?; (3) in what ways can the development strategies adopted by the governments of Bangladesh and Egypt, with their very different implications for women's opportunities in contexts where personal autonomy remains limited, be seen as additional factors in explaining the similar rural fertility declines despite dissimilar economic circumstances? After reviewing the evidence, the paper concludes that neither differences in existing gender systems nor measurable changes in women's opportunities have been key factors in the notable demographic successes recorded in these two countries. Indeed, low levels of women's autonomy have posed no barrier to fertility decline in either country. However, there is a case to be made that Bangladesh's distinct approach to development, with considerable emphasis on reaching the rural poor and women and a strong reliance on nongovernmental institutions, may have played a part in accelerating the transition in that environment and in helping women to become more immediate beneficiaries of that process.This material may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the authors.

When Does Religion Influence Fertility?

“…Obermeyer rejects the view that there is any necessary connection between Islam and women's autonomy. Moreover, recent empirical studies have found no evidence that Muslim women have less autonomy than women belonging to other religious groups in the same societies (Jejeebhoy and Sathar 2001;Morgan et al 2002), and have questioned the link between autonomy and fertility in these populations (Amin and Lloyd 2002;Morgan et al 2002). For our purposes, the debate on reli-gion, women's autonomy, and fertility supports several conclusions.…”

Accounting for Gender Equality in Secondary School Enrollment in Africa

“…Goldin and Katz () argue that family planning and fertility decline mean that women could enter the labor force and avail themselves of the opportunity to get long‐ term education and pursue careers typically reserved for men. Amin and Lloyd () argue that fertility declines appear to have empowered women by increasing their access to and control of resources, noting that increased school enrollment for girls, more access to credit, new ideas about reproductive control, and increased social networks as the key aspects of improved life options for women (see also Malhotra, ). Also, as Sajid () had argued, population growth adversely affects gender equality in education.…”

The Path to Replacement Fertility in Egypt: Acceptance, Preference, and Achievement

“…Gender relations and gender value systems have long been conceptualized as major determinants of attitudes concerning fertility, although empirical evidence suggests that their impact depends partly on other contextual factors (McDonald 2000;Kravdal 2001;Mason 2001;Morgan et al 2002;Amin and Lloyd 2002). Our framework specifies that gender stratification has a direct effect on both the perception of the costs and benefits of having children and on the costs of fertility regulation.…”