Archive · 13 Aug 2025
Global Shift: Parents Increasingly Favoring Daughters Over Sons
Once upon a time, many people wanted sons more than daughters, leading to fewer girls being born in some places.
But now, things are changing!
More people around the world seem to want girls.
In countries where they used to want only boys, this preference is going away.
In richer countries, they are starting to want girls more, even using special methods to have them.
This could be because of how they see boys and girls in society, and because of new technology.
It is a big change in how people think about their families!
A global shift reveals a growing preference for daughters, contrasting with historical son preferences.
In developing countries, the preference for sons has declined significantly, leading to a decrease in skewed sex ratios.
Evidence suggests a rising preference for girls in the developed world, indicated by fertility choices and adoption trends.
Potential factors driving the shift include changing gender roles, concerns about male social issues, and technological advancements.
The article notes the complex social implications of these shifting preferences, including the potential impact on gender equality and societal norms.
- Who
- Parents globally are driving this change, influenced by societal changes and technological advances.
- What
- A global shift is occurring where preferences for daughters are increasing over sons.
- When
- This shift is most apparent in recent decades, with acceleration in the last few years.
- Where
- The change is observed in both developing and developed countries, with different expressions.
- Why
- Reasons include a desire to avoid problems related to skewed sex ratios, shifts in gender roles, and concerns about boys' social issues.
Historical Preference for Sons
Emerging Preference for Daughters
Shifting Preferences
Historical Preference for Sons
Preference for sons led to significant sex imbalances in birth ratios.
Emerging Preference for Daughters
Growing preference for daughters is now observed.
- Excess Male Births (peak)
- 1.7 million (2000)
- Excess Male Births (estimated, 2024)
- 200,000
- South Korean preference shift (1990)
- Nearly 116 boys born per 100 girls
- South Korean preference shift (current)
- Near even distribution between the sexes
- US adoption preference
- Heterosexuals/lesbians favored girls; gay men favored boys
- Sex-selective IVF cost (US)
- Up to $20,000