Parental Models of Infancy: A Note on Gender Preferences for Firstborns

Abstract

In past research individuals and couples without children have consistently expressed a preference for a male firstborn. Recent social changes have generated some expectation for a shift toward more equality of preference. The present study confirms a continuing preference for male firstborns in a population of couples expecting a first child. There was an increase in the number of subjects who would not specify a preference. When subjects were also asked to state a belief about gender of the fetus, most expectant mothers, but not their husbands, believed they were carrying males. These results have implications for future research on gender preference and for predicting sex ratios at birth should methods of gender preselection become available.

Fetal sex preference of second-trimester gravidas

“…More than half of the subjects reported a sex belief. Interestingly, most of subjects believed their fetus was a male, which is consistent with the findings of Pharis and Manosevitz (5). The rationale for the sex belief was variable.…”

“…Historically, there has generally been a predominate preference for males over females (2–4). However, other studies have reported that gravid women are more apt to claim indifference to infant sex (1, 5, 6). One explanation of this finding was the possibility that gravid women are less likely to express a preference because no action could be taken to change the sex at that time.…”

Variables associées aux préférences relatives au sexe des enfants chez des femmes enceintes primipares

“…Certains auteurs ont souligné qu'il était beaucoup plus réaliste de mesurer la préférence à l'égard d'un premier enfant chez des femmes enceintes (Marleau et coll., 1996 ;Pharis et Manosevitz, 1980 ;Steinbacher et Gilroy, 1985 ;Westoff et Rindfuss, 1974) puisque, au moment d'une grossesse, la question de la préférence est un sujet qui est plus souvent discuté et d'actualité. Seuls Uddenberg et coll.…”