AP HUG Unit 2.8

Women's status

The level of equality between men and women in a society.

Traditional gender roles

A social system where women's status is lower than men's and women are mainly expected to have children and stay in the home.

Egalitarian gender roles

A social system where women have status equal to men.

How does women's status affect fertility rates?

Higher women's status generally leads to lower fertility rates.

Why do women with more education tend to have fewer children?

They are more likely to question traditional norms and make informed choices about family size.

More books, fewer babies

The idea that increased female education usually leads to lower fertility.

Family planning

Methods that allow people to control when or whether they have children.

Examples of family planning

Contraception, birth control pills, IUDs, and abortion.

How does access to family planning affect fertility?

It lowers fertility rates by reducing unwanted pregnancies.

How does employment affect women's status and fertility?

Greater access to employment usually lowers fertility because women may delay marriage and childbearing.

How does women's status affect infant mortality rates?

Higher women's status usually lowers infant mortality because women have better access to healthcare, education, and planning.

Infant mortality rate

The number of infants who die before age one per 1,000 live births.

How does women's status affect maternal mortality?

Higher women's status usually lowers maternal mortality because women have better healthcare access.

How does women's status affect migration?

Women with greater autonomy are more likely to migrate, especially from rural to urban areas.

Ravenstein's Law 6

Women are more likely to migrate within their own country, while men are more likely to migrate to other countries.

Why do women often migrate from rural to urban areas?

Cities usually offer more jobs, especially in factories and the service sector, along with more progressive attitudes toward women.

Example of women's rural-to-urban migration

Millions of women in China have migrated from the countryside to cities for work.

How does women's migration affect their status?

Moving to cities often increases women's social role and autonomy.

Why does higher women's status matter demographically?

It lowers fertility rates, lowers infant and maternal mortality, and can increase migration.