Women's Empowerment and Son Preference in Azerbaijan

University essay from Lunds universitet/Ekonomisk-historiska institutionen

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between women’s empowerment and son preference. Development and women’s empowerment indicators were utilized to explore their effects on son preference, using an ordered logistic model. Data for this study were obtained from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in Azerbaijan in 2006. The results show that women in Azerbaijan have a lower son preference than men. Additionally, the results show that empowering women within the household tends to lower son preference for both men and women. The inclusion of women in the household's decision making has a weakening impact on son preference for both men and women. On the other hand, when women have freedom over managing their earnings, son preference is stronger. Media access and wife-beating tolerance are correlated to higher son preference for individuals in the sample. However, when an interaction term between media and female is added to the model, media access is negatively correlated to son preference. Lastly, primary education for women is correlated to son preference compared to women with no education. These results suggest that the empowering of women can lower son preference, but single empowerment factors have to be taken into consideration carefully. Targeted policy-making is needed to ensure that the discrimination of unborn girls is eliminated.

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