Fertility Attitudes and Behaviours of Rural-to-Urban Migrants in China

Fei Guo, Macquarie University

Based on a year-long fieldwork in China in 1998, this study examines fertility attitudes and behaviours of rural-to-urban migrants. The fieldwork was carried out both in migrants' current community in Beijing and in one of migrants' home villages in Henan province. Major findings include: 1) Fertility level of rural-to-urban migrants is slightly lower than that of their rural counterparts and considerably higher than that of urban local residents. 2) Migrants are concentrated in a segregated group of occupations and socially excluded in the community. 3) Most rural migrants tend to interact with their fellow migrants. The cultural continuity in fertility behaviours from their rural backgrounds is evidenced. 4) Under the current social conditions in China, it is unrealistic to expect any drastic fertility behavioural changes among migrant population. The act of migration per se does not have a significant effect on migrants' fertility attitudes and behaviours.