Understanding low fertility in Poland: Demographic consequences of gendered discrimination in employment and postsocialist neoliberal restructuring

    Authors

    J. Z. Mishtal

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Demogr. Res.

    Keywords

    LABOR-MARKET; TRANSITION; SOCIETIES; COUNTRIES; POLICIES; HUNGARY; DECLINE; SEARCH; WORLD; TIME; Demography

    Abstract

    After the state socialist regime of Poland collapsed in 1989, the nation's total fertility rate plummeted from 2.1 to 1.27 by 2007. Simultaneously, Poland severely reduced social service provisions and restricted access to family planning. A three-month mixed-methods research study was conducted in 2007 in Gdansk to investigate Polish women's reproductive intentions and decision making. These data reveal that discriminatory practices by employers against pregnant women and women with small children are decisive in women's decisions to postpone or forego childbearing. The case of Poland demonstrates the urgent need to redress fundamental gendered discrimination in employment before work-family reconciliation policies can be effective.

    Journal Title

    Demographic Research

    Volume

    21

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    599

    Last Page

    626

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000271141800001

    ISSN

    1435-9871

    Share

    COinS