Couples’ housework participation, housework satisfaction and fertility intentions among married couples in Hong Kong

Abstract

Low total fertility rates have persisted in East Asian societies, with gender inequality at home identified as a significant barrier to women achieving their desired fertility. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence on the link between housework participation and fertility intentions among married couples in Hong Kong, where the total fertility rate has fallen below 1 since 2020. This study proposes and tests two hypotheses regarding the relationship between couples’ housework participation, housework satisfaction, and fertility intentions. The study utilises representative household survey data to show that women’s evaluation of housework arrangements plays a role in the indirect association between housework participation and fertility intentions. This indirect relationship is moderated by gender role attitudes and fertility gap. The findings support gender equity theory, which links an uneven housework burden to low fertility. This research highlights the importance of gender equity at home in promoting fertility in East Asia.