Smarties, I recently read an article in the Huffington Post about gender selection. I know it’s a very controversial topic, and trust me, I’m not here to debate it. What really caught my eye was this: history says that boys have always been the preferred gender; but, according to the article, in the United States, “a different kind of sex selection is taking place: Mothers…are using expensive reproductive procedures so they can select girls.”
So this is what I want to know – do you agree that girls are winning the gender popularity contest? Have you noticed a preference among your friends (or yourself!) to have girls? Put the gender selection debate aside – under normal circumstances, do you think people are preferring girls?
I’ve actually noticed for several years now that the pendulum is swinging more to the “girlie” side than the boys. I’m not exactly sure why that’s the case, though. Maybe it’s because boys get a bad rap of being dirty, hard to control, and into “violent” things? Or maybe it’s because we believe our girls are the ones who take care of us when we’re old? Perhaps it’s because selection of girls’ clothes is way better than boys’ clothes?
As the mother of one girl and three boys, I obviously find the beauty in a dirty boy (there is no better therapy than scrubbing a filthy boy who’s played tackle football all day in the yard with his brothers). And since I have one daughter, I don’t feel like I’m “missing out” on anything.
I know some people with all boys wish they got just one girl – I get that when you have all of one gender. But I’m curious – do those with all girls wish just as much for one boy?
I know that many of you have opinions – let me hear them! Remember – you can comment anonymously!
5 comments
I have two girls, and would have loved a boy. I have nine nephews on my husband’s side, and I love everything about them. When we found out that daughter #2 was a girl, I cannot tell you how many people said to us “Are you disappointed?” or “Will you try for a boy?” or “At least with OUR boys, we won’t have weddings to pay for.” (Seriously???) I think perhaps it is the issue of wanting what we can’t have, along with some misguided notions about what having a daughter actually entails, but ultimately, you get what you get!!!
I am in the same boat as you Cheryl, 1 girl and 3 boys. I have several friends that have 3 of the same gender and all of them at one time or another have said they would have a 4th if they knew it would be the opposite gender. I don’t really think in my circle of friends that there is a preference to girls or boys, it seems to be pretty much equal. With us having 4 kids, it seems that alot of our friends have larger families too, and we all just love kids, boys or girls, doesn’t make a difference.
And the whole paying for the wedding comments, it is so different now. Most of the weddings I have been a part of lately, it was equally spread between, the bride/groom, her parents and his parents. If the couple wants a big wedding, I have seen that they have to help pay for it too.
I do think the tide is changing in terms of parents wanting one gender or the other. I think in the way past girls were considered more of a burden. They had to live at home until they got married, they eventually lost their maiden name when they got married, the only careers that were available to them were mother, teacher, nurse, or receptionist (I’m obviously speaking in generalities here). I still see some of this in my friends who think that girls are “harder” than boys. I have twin boys and when I was pregnant and telling people they were both boys, most people said, “Oh too bad you’re not having one of each. That would have been perfect!” (um…thanks?) I think it’s great that the popularity of girl and boy babies is equaling out a bit. Yay for girls!…and boys!
I’m 50/50 with 2 of each. I have to say, when I was pregnant with #s 3 & 4 at the same time, I can’t tell you how much I was rooting for boys! But I absolutely adore having both and feel guilty sometimes that I was so lucky to have both. My girls are easier in a sense now b/c they have similar interests as Mom. But the drama is coming, and I’m prepared for it! As for my boys, they are all B-O-Y times two! They drain me mentally and physically and I love that at the end of the day, they just want to snuggle with their mama:-)
We are so lucky that our kids will have equal opportunities for the most part – gender out of the equation. They can do whatever their hearts desire!
This is interesting. With my first I wanted a girl. Then with my second pregnancy I was surprised to want another girl. If I had a third (which we will not) if I could pick I would love another girl. I always thought it was really strange that I only wanted girls since society is always saying a boy & girl are ideal. But I never felt a need to have a boy either.