Indeed, since the widespread use of ultrasound scans in the 1980s, parents have been able to find out from as early as the second trimester (and sometimes earlier) whether they are expecting a girl or a boy.

In the US, “gender reveal parties”, have become highly fashionable events specially organised (as the name suggests) to reveal the gender of an unborn child.

For in many cultures, and for centuries, raising a girl or a boy has not been perceived or valued in the same way. And, the scales have traditionally tipped in favour of boys.

Sex-selective terminations

In several Asian and Eastern European countries, sex-selective abortion (voluntary termination of pregnancy due to disappointment with the sex of the unborn child) is practised, despite bans.

In these countries, the ratio of girls to boys born is very uneven.

This is the case in India, where the birth ratio is estimated at 107 girls for every 100 boys in 2023, as well as in China (111 boys for every 100 girls in 2023), reports The Economist.

This clear historical cultural preference for boys is also evident in Vietnam, South Korea, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

In addition to sex-selective abortions, there are also parents who try to conceive another child in the hope of obtaining the desired sex.

Some countries, such as Cyprus and the US, even allow sex selection before conception through IVF, via a process known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

There are many reasons why having a baby boy might be more highly valued, based on ancestral patriarchal traditions and beliefs that are deeply rooted in societies.

For example, it is traditionally believed (including in Western cultures) that it is men who carry on the family name, who are eligible to receive the family inheritance, and who ensure the financial security of the household.

And in some countries where religious practices play a prominent role, certain rites and rituals are the sole preserve of men.

Shifting perceptions

However, this trend is now reversing for the first time. As early as 2019, an article in the New York Times noted this change.

This is the case in Albania, South Korea, China, and India, where the gap between female and male births has narrowed considerably.

Globally, the annual number of excess male births has fallen from a peak of 1.7 million in 2000 to around 200,000, bringing it back to the biological norm of a birth ratio of 105 boys to 100 girls, according to The Economist.

But gender stereotypes still persist: girls, for example, are still perceived as being “easier” to raise or better placed to care for elderly parents, which may partly explain this sudden “appeal” of the female sex.

But this paradigm shift can also be explained by a growing awareness of gender issues.

Some countries have implemented policy measures and are raising public awareness of this issue in order to reduce the gender imbalance at birth.

For example, China has banned sex-selective abortions, and in 2015 the Indian government launched a major awareness campaign called “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter).

For their part, researchers and essayists contribute to advancing the debate by analysing sociological trends through the lens of gender.

In many areas of society, acts of violence are predominantly committed by men. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, men make up between 93% and 94% of the global prison population.

Men are also less qualified than women. In rich countries, 54% of young women have a higher education degree, compared to 41% of young men, according to an OECD report published in 2023.

Based on these statistics, raising girls may appear more reassuring than raising boys.

On the whole, this shift can be perceived as a positive societal development, as it is based (at least in part) on beliefs directly conveyed by the fight for gender equality.