Dimensions and crystallization of family‐size norms

Contemporary efforts in family planning research emphasize the suitability of contraceptives for realizing desired or ideal family size. Most, however, adopt the notion that family size is conceived of as a fixed number rather than a range of acceptable sizes. This study focuses on the latter concept and attempts to isolate those factors which are related to the magnitude of such a range.

Based on data developed from structured interviews with 9,189 ever‐married Philippine women in the childbearing years, the results suggest that women do tend to conceive of future family size in terms of a range rather than a fixed number. Current and ideal family size are positively related to the magnitude of this range suggesting that family size norms become less rather than more crystallized as a function of increments in family size. Demographic characteristics such as age and length of marriage are also positively related to the size of the range of acceptable family size. Level of female's education, on the other hand, is negatively related to the magnitude of this range suggesting that those with higher levels of education have more crystallized norms regarding family size than do those with lower levels of education.