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Bearing the Reproductive Load? Unequal Reproductive Careers Among U.S. Women
Katherine M Johnson1, Karina M Shreffler2, Arthur L Greil3
1Sociology Department, Tulane University, 220E Newcomb Hall, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA.
Population Research and Policy Review
|June 12, 2026
Summary
Women's reproductive lives are interconnected. Black, Hispanic, low-SES, and less healthcare-accessible women experience denser, more complex reproductive careers, indicating a higher "reproductive load."
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Public Health
- Demography
Background:
- Reproductive events are often studied discretely, not reflecting lived experiences.
- A "reproductive careers" framework views reproductive lives as interconnected throughout the life course.
- Stratified reproduction, cumulative (dis)advantage, and health scholarship inform this analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend the "reproductive careers" framework by analyzing density and complexity of reproductive events.
- To empirically examine how women’s reproductive careers are unequally patterned.
- To investigate the concept of "reproductive load" experienced differentially by subgroups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Survey of Fertility Barriers (NSFB).
- Analyzed reproductive history data from 4351 cisgender women in the U.S.
- Conceptualized and measured reproductive event density and complexity.
Main Results:
- Black and Hispanic women experienced denser and more complex reproductive careers.
- Women of lower socioeconomic status had denser and more complex reproductive careers.
- Women with limited healthcare access showed denser and more complex reproductive careers compared to advantaged peers.
Conclusions:
- Reproductive event density and complexity serve as indicators of "reproductive load."
- Structural disadvantages contribute to unequal patterns in women's reproductive careers.
- The "reproductive careers" framework offers a more holistic understanding of reproductive health and experiences across the life course.
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