Like most traditional rural Chinese, the islanders still believe that a son is more valuable than a daughter, and in fact many of the landmarks on the island are a reflection of this belief. Boys are regarded as important because they will carry on the traditional work of the father, providing care for him in his old age.
衛生所家計員何金葉指出，小琉球的男子多半十幾歲就出海打魚，由於海上生活沒有保障，因此當地居民多早婚，希望早有子嗣。許多婦女到了廿多歲便有三、四個孩子，由於年紀輕、知識水準低、家庭經濟環境不佳，子女多半得不到良好的教養，因此家計人員努力勸導她們節育。