Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Asian Boy Bias Skewing US Birth Stats

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 15, 2009 4:11 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Many Asian American parents' strong bias for sons is beginning to emerge in US birth statistics, reports the New York Times.  Chinese, Korean and Indian immigrant families are more likely to abort female embryos and use in-vitro fertilization to have a treasured boy, particularly after the first or second daughter, say experts. No similar basis was detected among Japanese American families in census figures.

Though it's common for immigrants to transplant birth patterns to a new country, many observers are shocked that the boy bias has continued so strongly. “That this is going on in the US—people were blown away,” said Prof. Lena Edlund of Columbia University. Sons are crucial to families in China. “Inheritance is carried through the male line,” said one expert. “Families depend on the male child for support.” The boy bias may fade with further assimilation, say observers.

Chinese, Korean and Indian immigrants are more likely to use sex selection to have a son, particularly after a first or second daughter, statistics show.
Chinese, Korean and Indian immigrants are more likely to use sex selection to have a son, particularly after a first or second daughter, statistics show.   (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Boy oh boy.
Boy oh boy.   (©Emery Co Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Culturally, there are a lot of strange things that go on in the world. Whether we agree with it, it’s not harming anyone. - Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, a California fertility specialist who deals with parents' requests for sex selection

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Toon
Jun 16, 2009 7:51 AM CDT
Wha-? I'd hardly call a fetus's ability to move amniotic fluid in and out breathing. A fetus gets its oxygen from the mother's blood, not amniotic fluid which is more akin to piss than anything else.
Timinator2K
Jun 15, 2009 12:55 PM CDT
China and India with HUGE male to female imbalances...and all those surplus males are going to demand women. I smell a huge war of population trimming down a coming.
BeatBlaster
Jun 15, 2009 4:49 AM CDT
Timinator I've been wondering the same thing.... all of these young men are going to want women eventually. Does anyone know the ratio of males to females in, say, China? There's gonna be a whole lot of upset, lonely guys walking around eventually (if there aren't any already).
US • Health

 
gender • abortion • parenting • in vitro fertilization • girls • Koreans • gender gap • gender bias • Census data • Chinese Americans • Asian immigrants • Indians • sex selection • boys

More Newser Stories

Daughters Are Great, But ...
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne