Fertility & Empowerment Network

Population dynamics and gender issues are intimately connected but there has been little research on the impact of demographic change on gender relations. Fertility rates have declined dramatically in many parts of the world because people want fewer children and have increased access to contraception. As women and men are able to determine the number and spacing of their children, how does this affect women’s roles and positions in society?

Our Research

The Fertility and Empowerment Network is a group of academic and applied researchers with a strong commitment to understanding the connection between gender, fertility and development through both theoretical and applied research. Network members are currently investigating whether and to what extent declines in fertility in lower and middle income countries have led to subsequent gains in women’s empowerment and transformations in gender relations. Housed at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and funded by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the network aims to advance an actionable research agenda on issues intersecting these three themes and to support the professional development of experienced and emerging scholars with an interest in gender and population.

Fertility & Empowerment Network Working Paper Series »

Research Brief: How Have Fertility Declines Benefitted Women’s Lives in Low- and Middle-Income Countries?