On Substituting Sex Preference Strategies in East Asia: Does Prenatal Sex Selection Reduce Postnatal Discrimination?

The preliminary findings in this analysis support the substitution hypothesis and suggest consideration of policy change and increases in the sex ratio in countries with a strong preference for sons indicate the availability and use of sex-selective abortion.

Abstract

It is argued that prenatal sex selection may potentially reduce postnatal sex discrimination. The preliminary findings in this analysis support this substitution hypothesis and suggest consideration of policy change. Policy change would include a shift to socioeconomic policies that might reduce all forms of discrimination against daughters. It is argued that banning sex selective abortion might lead to increased early childhood mortality. The moral acceptability needs to be weighed by policymakers about whether it is better to have 1000 sex selective abortions or 10 female childhood deaths due to postnatal neglect or just 1 postnatal female death/1000 sex selective abortions. The substitution hypothesis is supported in the literature by studies of daughters survival probabilities by Muhuri and Preston or Kishor. Reference is made to Scrimshaws suggestion that greater suffering occurs for infants children and even adults when infanticide does not take place. Other empirical support for the substitution hypothesis is given. It is argued that despite the deficiencies the sex ratio at birth is a good measure of sex preference. Sharp increases in the sex ratio in countries with a strong preference for sons indicate the availability and use of sex-selective abortion. Gender-based mortality and sex ratio patterns are described for Korea Taiwan China and Malaysia.