Humanity’s Oldest Bias Is Finally Reversing

A historic shift is underway in global gender preferences, with a dramatic decline in the preference for sons over daughters at birth. For millennia, a bias towards boys has led to practices like female infanticide and, more recently, sex-selective abortions, resulting in a significant “missing” female population. Economist Amartya Sen estimated over 100 million women were missing in Asia, North Africa, and China in the 1990s, a number exacerbated by the advent of ultrasound technology. The Economist reports that approximately 50 million fewer girls were born worldwide since 1980 than would be naturally expected, largely due to sex-selective practices.

However, this deeply ingrained prejudice is demonstrably changing. The number of excess male births has fallen from a peak of 1.7 million in 2000 to around 200,000, bringing birth ratios back within biologically normal ranges. Countries like South Korea, which once saw extreme skews in favor of boys, now exhibit near-normal ratios. This translates to an estimated 7 million girls saved in the last 25 years – a figure comparable to the lives saved through anti-smoking campaigns in the United States.

Several factors are driving this positive trend. Improved educational and professional opportunities for girls are playing a crucial role. Girls are increasingly outperforming boys in school globally, with significant gains in reading and narrowing gaps in math. Higher education enrollment also favors females, with 113 female students for every 100 male students. While a gender pay gap persists, it is shrinking, and in some US cities, young women are earning more than their male counterparts.

Government policies are also contributing. Crackdowns on sex-selective abortion technologies in countries like South Korea and China, coupled with public awareness campaigns like “Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter” in India, are shifting societal norms.

Perhaps most telling is the change in parental preferences. In South Korea, the proportion of women who believe having a son is “necessary” plummeted from 48% in 1983 to just 6% in 2003. Japan shows an even stronger shift, with 75% of couples desiring only one child hoping for a daughter as early as 2002. Even in the US, evidence suggests a growing preference for daughters among prospective parents utilizing IVF and those seeking adoption.

While this progress is remarkable, challenges remain. Skewed birth ratios persist in parts of India, and post-birth discrimination through unequal access to nutrition and healthcare continues in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, pervasive violence and discrimination against women globally cannot be ignored.

Interestingly, some of the shift may be linked to evolving perceptions of gender roles and societal expectations. Boys are facing increasing challenges in education and transitioning to adulthood, while some parents may view daughters as more reliable caregivers in old age – a concerning perpetuation of traditional gender stereotypes.

Despite these nuances, the decline in son preference represents a significant victory for social progress. It’s a testament to the power of education, policy, and changing societal values. The hope is that, in the near future, daughters and sons will be welcomed equally, not as representatives of gender, but simply as cherished children.