WOMENS POSITION AND FAMILY-PLANNING IN EGYPT

In this report, data from the 1988 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey are used to address some of the most frequently raised questions abou t the relationship between gender inequality and reproductive behavior . The findings from binomial and multinomial logit models show that wh ile the relationship between women's position and fertility control in Egypt is complex, some clear, broad patterns exist that have importan t theoretical and policy implications. First, although women's status in Egypt is clearly multidimensional, the reproductive aspect of women 's position has a strong connection with the nonreproductive dimension s. Second, the case for the continued use of education and employment as proxies of women's position, especially in relationship to fertilit y control, is considerably discredited by the results. Finally, the fi ndings indicate that Egyptian culture supports gender equality in the form of interaction and negotiation rather than women's autonomy.