Three demographic consequences of gender-specific behavior pattern: The case of Serbia
Authors: Sobot Ankica 
Published: January 2019

The focus point in this paper referes to three issues of demographic
development in Serbia presented from the gender perspective. Feminization,
mortality in men and low reproductive norms are analyzed as effects of
relevant behavior of both sexes. This choice is the result of earlier
analyses of gender socio-demographic characteristics as well as the
researches of demographic phenomena from the perspective of gender roles and
gender relations. The gender aspect, as a cognitive concept, implies the
importance of the female and male behavior pattern in understanding
demographic structures, processes and phenomena. The theoretical foundation
was found in the anthropological character of contemporary demography which
focuses on the individual?s behavior in the context of interactive relations
with the concrete environment. In the context of a complex deterministic
basis and interactive connection of various factors, gender roles and gender
relations represent a relative segment of social dimension of various
demographic issues. Feminization of the middle-aged and older population
emphasizes the importance of female perspective, taking into consideration
space diversity. Feminization is most intensive in Belgrade. Among the
middle-aged women there is a higher proportion of tertiary educated and
divorced, and less share of the economically independent, in relation to the
remaining region of Central Serbia. As regards older women, irrespective of
spatial distribution, widowhood, unfavorable education characteristics, lower
economic activity and greater economic dependency are important matters. The
issue of retirement has specific importance, and should be solved in the
context of educated and socio-professional characteristics of women, in order
to promote their social position and gender equality. A shorter life span of
the male population requires recognizing specific mortality factors of the
middle-aged and older males, in order to eliminate the gender gap in this
view. Greater mortality rate in men implies diversity of factors and
characteristics of concrete social context. Part of the response lies in
their greater exposure to risky behavior. Apart from that, the importance of
socio-psychological factors has been recognized, which includes the
prevailing concept of gender roles and gender relations. The asymmetric
division of activities and obligations regarding parenthood represents an
increasingly important determinant of low reproductive norms. Empirical
research confirms the prevailing realization of motherhood in everyday parent
activities and in the responsibility for raising and upbringing children.
Sweden is an example of a country in which the above average European
fertility rates correspond with a more equal division of parenting roles,
whereby the support for coordinating parenthood and the profession is
orientated both towards mothers and fathers equally. A gender sensible
approach in solving demographic matters implies recognizing the position and
status of both sexes and acknowledging the gender relations as a relevant
factor. The analyzed issues are not specific only to the demographic
development of Serbia. Nevertheless, their solving implies confronting
cultural norms, achieved degrees of economic and social development, as well
as building necessary institutional mechanisms.