The major factors that determines family size is the status of women. In many male-dominated cultures, the traditional role of women is to marry and raise children. Often this role is coupled with strong religious input as well. Typically, little value is placed on educating women, and early marriage is encouraged. In these cultures, women are totally dependent on their husbands or their grown children to provide for them in old age. Because early marriage is encouraged, fertility rates are high, since women are exposed to the probability of pregnancy for more of their fertile years.