Graduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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rucore19991600001
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PhysicalLocation (authority = marcorg); (displayLabel = Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)
NjNbRU
Identifier (type = doi)
doi:10.7282/T3NC5ZXC
Genre (authority = ExL-Esploro)
ETD doctoral
Abstract
This dissertation uses nationally representative data from the National Survey of Families and Households toaddress the overarching question: ―For what reasons and with what consequences do people incorporate a preference for ̳at least one boy and one girl‘ into family formation ideals?‖In the first analysis, I evaluate three potential psychosocial frameworks motivating the mixed-sex ideal. Results support a ―separate spheres‖ ideology, through which parents may view the interests, traits, skills, and roles of boys and girls in families as very different. Second, results support a rational choice orientation, whereby achieving this goal maximizes having a variety of one‘s needs met in old age. Third,it may be motivated by its symbolic capital as a status marker, representing the image of a ―balanced,‖ ideal family. Based on beliefs about the non-substitutability of boys and girls, this ideal represents a form of gender inequality that persists in families. In the second analysis, I use discrete-time event history to associate individuals‘ statements about valuing a mixed-sex composition with odds of having a third child, accounting for within-couple differences on this preference.Couples with same-sex children did not have higher odds of a third birth than those with mixed-sex children. Furthermore, the degree to which couples valued having a mixed-sex composition did not matter more for those with same-sex children. Although couples with the strongest subscription to the mixed-sex ideal had significantly higher odds of a third birth than those with the lowest among couples with two boys, the effect of this pattern is too small to play a significant role in determining third births. In the third analysis, I examinewhether unfulfilled ideals for a mixed-sex composition are associated with negative psychological consequences among mothers. Results show that the sex composition of children was not associated with psychological well-being. Furthermore, women who valued a mixed-sex composition but did not obtain it did not report more depressive symptoms, poorer life satisfaction, or less satisfaction with family life than those who did not value the mixed-sex ideal. I discuss implications of findings for gender, families, psychological health, and ethical debates about sex-selection technologies.
Rutgers University. Graduate School - New Brunswick
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I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.