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Paper short abstract

This paper analyses how mismatches between couples’ desired and actual sex composition shape spousal (dis)agreement over fertility intentions and examines who dominates childbearing decisions by exploring how couples “bargain over babies” in contemporary India in an era of low fertility.

Paper long abstract

Fertility preferences are a central determinant of reproductive behaviour, influencing not only the number of children couples desire but also their sex composition. Yet, research has largely treated women and men as independent units of analysis, neglecting the inherently dyadic nature of reproductive decision-making. This paper addresses this gap by using couple-level data from the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21). First, we examine the concordance of fertility and sex composition preferences between husbands and wives and how this alignment varies across socioeconomic groups. Second, we analyse how the mis(match) between desired and actual sex composition influences spousal (dis)agreement regarding future fertility intentions. Finally, we investigate who dominates fertility decision-making, exploring how couples “bargain over babies” in contemporary India in an era of low fertility. By foregrounding relational power, gender norms, and locally embedded family structures, the study contributes to decolonising Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) debates by moving beyond individualistic and technocratic frameworks to highlight the social and power-laden nature of reproductive decision-making. In doing so, the study reveals both the possibilities and constraints of women’s agency within a patriarchal society marked by persistent son preference.