BY: ADEBAJO ADEKUNLEE FISAYO, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS: INTRODUCTION
Fertility level may be defined as the actual birth-rate of a particular geographical location; it may also be said to be the real reproductive performance by a woman or a population. In other words, it is the number of offspring born per mating pair, individual or population. It is significantly different from another term, ‘fecundity’, which is the physiological or biological capability of the females in a population to reproduce and not actually the rate of reproduction [1] [2]. A lack of fertility is infertility; but a lack of fecundity would be called sterility. While fertility can be measured, fecundity cannot.
Another key term in the topic is Gender. This may be referred to as the behavioural, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex. It is defined by FAO as ‘the relations between men and women, both perceptual and material. Gender is not determined biologically, as a result of sexual characteristics of either women or men, but is constructed socially. It is a central organising principle of societies, and often governs the processes of production and reproduction, consumption and distribution.’ (FAO, 1997)[3]
Gender relations basically entail the male and female roles, attitudes etc., and how the different genders interact with each other. They are the ways in which a culture or society defines rights, responsibilities, and the identities of men and women in relation to one another (Bravo-Baunmann, 2000) [4]. It deals with issues such as male dominance, gender equality and female liberation.
FERTILITY LEVEL AND GENDER RELATIONS: THE RELATIONSHIP
It is an undeniable fact that the nature of relations between members of the genders in a given society is inextricably linked with the fertility level in that society. The gender-related reasons causing a wide disparity between birth rates in various nations of the world are what this essay hopes to expose and analyse. If the interaction between men and women in a society is cordial, it is bound to influence the fertility rate; and the same thing if it is vice versa.
CONTRACEPTION: In a country where couples have amicable relationships, and women’s opinions are sought in sexual issues, it is most probable that there will a high prevalence of the use of condoms and contraception, leading inevitably to a low fertility rate. It has been observed that on average, 85% of married couples using no contraception will have a pregnancy in one year. The rate drops to the 20% range when using withdrawal, vaginal sponges, or spermicides. It drops to only 2 or 3% when using the pill or an IUD, and drops to near 0% for implants and 0% for tubal ligation (sterilisation) of the woman, or a vasectomy of the man [5].
The figure below shows that the higher the use of contraception, the lesser the rate of fertility. Less than 30% of Africans use it, hence, we have the highest rate of births.
ABORTION: Again, from statistics, abortions are more rampant in areas where women’s rights are recognised by the (male-dominated) government. This is so because most women in these countries naturally tend to be ‘pro-choice.’ Instances include China (with highest number of abortions), Russia (second highest) and the United states (4th highest) [6]
EDUCATION: In less developed nations and rural areas, where the relationship between the two genders is more of master-servant than partners in progress, women are often denied their right to adequate and formal education. Consequently, they are subjected to early marriages; and this leads to an increase in fertility because they have more years to reproduce. The average year range within which reproduction is possible for most females is 15-49. And even within this period, the earliest part (late teens or early twenties) is the most biologically fertile period, because that’s when ‘oocytes are fresh and the body’s reproductive and other systems are at a youthful peak.’[7] [8]. This is according to John Mirowsky, a sociologist at the University of Texas. Thus, the more the delay we have in marriages, the less the number of live children likely to be born to the population. And again, intensive formal education does not only lead to delayed marriages, it also leads to more women being in the work force and a spread in knowledge of the merits of family planning; all of which lead to a decrease in child birth. In essence, geniality in gender relations leads to a decrease in fertility while male hegemony results in an increase as marriages generally take place earlier in the females’ life cycle.
FAMILY PLANNING: In addition to the aforementioned points, gender relations also influence fertility levels in the aspect of family planning. In more developed nations, where the women are partially averse to the idea to giving birth to more than a few children, a cordial relationship between spouses will amount to an effecting family planning system and a reduction in fertility rate. However, in less developed nations (such as some parts of Nigeria, especially the North) [9], where majority of the women are inclined towards giving birth ceaselessly, a cordial relationship between spouses will result into an increase in fertility rate, since there is no rancour interrupting their sexual life.
DIVORCE: This aspect deals with the stability of marital relationships between the genders. The question of how often marriages are broken goes a long way to determine the fertility level of a geographical area. This is so since persistent divorces tend to reduce the number of reproductive years spent in sexual unions; and just like education/delayed marriages, automatically reduces the fertility level. Thus, in societies whereby most marriages are faced with instability in the form of divorce, fertility tends to be reduced compared with those in which sexual unions are more stable. For instance, in the traditional Nigerian society, a high proportion of women remain in sexual unions throughout their reproductive life span and, in fact, much after. Even widows still get ‘inherited’ by the husband’s relatives and continue their reproductive life, if possible. The reverse is the case is many western countries where divorce rates are high.
HONOUR KILLING: Another of the areas where gender-relations affect the rate of fertility is what is called ‘honour killing’ and female infanticide. They are both forms of gender-based violence. Honour killing is the homicide of a member of a family or social group, usually female, by other members, due to the belief the victim has brought badishonour upon the family or community [10]; while female infanticide is the intentional killing of baby girls due to the preference for male babies and from the low value associated with the birth of females [11]. Both concepts reek of gender chauvinism, and they, no doubt, contribute significantly to a fall in fertility level, as they cause the mortality of the fecund population. For instance, in 2011 alone, human rights groups reported that 605 women died as a result of honour killings in Pakistan. And between 1998 and 2004, 2700 women were ‘honourably’ killed in the same country [12]
CONCLUSION
From the above exposition, it can be categorically asserted that not only do we have a relationship between fertility level and gender relations; this relationship is strong and not negligible. The way males relate with females in a certain community goes a long way in determining the rate at which the fecund population will give birth.
REFERENCES
- http://gfmer.ch/books/reproductive_health.the_demography_of_fertility_and_infertility.html.
- http://enotes.com/public-health-encyclopedia/fecundity-fertility.
- Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations; Publications of the Economic and Social Development Department. http://fao.org.
- Bravo-Baumann, H. 2000. Capitalisation of experiences on the contribution of livestock projects to gender issues. Working Document. Bern, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
- Fertility: Wikipedia. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility.
- United Nations Statistics Division: UNPD World Abortion Policies, 2007.
- Parenthood and Health: The Pivotal and Optimal Age at First Birth by John Mirowsky, department of Sociology, University of Texas. E-mail: mirowsky@prc.utexas.edu.
- http://nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000894.htm.
- National Population Commission: Fertility http://population.gov.ng/index.php/82-major-activities/mdg/101-fertility.
- Honour killing in Pakistan: http://en.m.wikipedia.org.
- Gendercide Watch: Female Infanticide: http://gendercide.org/case_infanticide.html.
- Felix, Qaiser (2004-07-22). Honour killing and ‘karo kari’ in Pakistan. AsiaNews.it. Retrieved 2010-01-01.