ABSTRACT
PIP: This article gives an overview of a conference on Fertility and the Male Life Cycle held in Mexico on November 13-16, 1995. The seminars, organized by anthropological demographers, were based on the view that differences in men's life course events affect how many children are produced, when children are produced, and the kind of support given to children. Little research has focused on male fertility. Two overview papers addressed the issues of men's changing sexual and reproductive intentions as a response to economic changes (Jane Guyer) and theories of male fertility trends in industrialized countries (David Coleman). Other papers were presented on the following topics: changes in male fertility, sexuality and the male life cycle, polygyny and fertility, men's notions of sexuality and reproductive health, masculinity and reproduction, and future research directions. Laurent Toulemon and Evelyne Lapierre-Adamcyk and Katarina Pohl presented papers on gender differences in fertility. Philip Setel presented an analysis of the social construction of parenthood among Coastal Boiken in Papua New Guinea. Paul Miret discussed men's role in the sharp decline in Spanish fertility. Nosa Orobaton contrasted African men's changing roles over the life course. Differences in fertility among polygynous populations in Africa and in China were analyzed by Ann Blanc and Anastasia Gage, and James Lee and Wang Feng. Other papers were prepared by Juan Gillermo Figueroa Perea, John Anarfi and Clara Korkor, Frances L. Goldscheider et al., Benno de Keijzer, and Mario Humberto Ruz, Ondina Fachel Leal and Jandyra M.G. Fachel, and Kamran Asdar Ali. Seminar papers were expected to be published in several collections.^ieng