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Girl or Boy? Negative consequences of Sex Selection
Since the beginning of human history, preference for a male child has been common among many cultures and societies. This tendency continues in most developing countries today. In these parts of the world, parents generally choose to have a boy rather than a girl. For example, preference for the male gender is still very popular among educated middle class families in India. There are several reasons why gender selection is pursued by parents. This choice, in turn, often leads to a series of undesirable consequences in society.
The factors that influence the decision to select a baby’s gender vary from one country to another. In India, it is the traditional dowry system that puts a financial burden on families with daughters. In China, it is because boys tend to help their parents better when they are old. In most countries, men have a privileged position over women in the family. This condition creates a fervent preference for boys over girls. Modern technology such as ultrasound can predict the gender of the unborn child with almost a hundred percent accuracy. The cost of using ultrasound is relatively cheap and affordable for most couples. As a result, female infanticides and abortions are very common among parents who only want to have sons. All this has a major impact on the particular society and the country in general.
The first implication of gender selection is gender imbalance in society. According to the Chinese government statistics in 2006, the ratio of boys to girls in China is 150:100. In India, it is quite similar; the ratio there is 100: 80. The fact that the population of men outnumbers that of women means that it will be very difficult for a man to find a wife, and there will be a gap between those who have wives and those who don’t. This could result in frustration and hatred towards other people who have wives. Moreover, those who can’t find a wife are likely to lose motivation and interest in life. The long term psychological impact on these men can lead to further severe outcomes.
Imagine a situation where there are too many lonely bachelors in society. It’s likely that a lot of these men will turn to alcohol and drugs to console themselves. Since there is no immediate solution to the problem of finding a wife, they may become dependent on these substances. This will seriously have a negative impact on their work and their relationship with their families. They will not be able to perform their duties at work and may even lose their jobs. In this situation, they may feel that they are living without hope and purpose for their future. Out of desperation, these individuals might get involved in fraud, robbery and even violent crimes against women, such as rape and kidnapping.
Gender selection brings serious undesirable consequences in society. The impacts must be considered before making a decision to choose a particular gender of child. Government regulations and existing bylaws must be strictly enforced. Moreover, state sponsored programmes which involve development and empowering women should be accompanied by efforts to raise public awareness of the issue. Only then will the society move forward to a healthier, more stable and prosperous state and eventually eliminate gender imbalance.