Declining fertility rates and stratified reproduction among women in East Asia: what can we learn from the cases of China, Japan and South Korea?

This paper investigates policy responses to declining fertility rates in China, Japan, and South Korea, focusing on the unequal valuing and support of women’s reproduction – referred to as ‘stratified reproduction’ in this paper. Using qualitative policy case studies, we critically examine how each government has influenced this trend. We argue that policy approaches largely overlook intersectional structural barriers faced by certain groups of women or young couples, such as lower education and income, insecure employment, and geographic disparities. These socio-economic conditions often lead to involuntary decisions to delay or forgo childbirth. While recognizing reproduction as an individual right, we argue that more universal and comprehensive government intervention is needed to address the institutional and socioeconomic barriers to childbearing and family support.