Sex Selective Abortions
Sex-Selective Abortions in China
Part A: Ethical Issue & Importance
The news article selected for the ethical analysis is based on the ‘One Child Policy of China’; many ethical issues arise from this article and topic in general. The ethical issue that has been chosen for analysis is whether or not sex-selective abortions are ethical for families to have a desired sex of a child in China. Although the ethical issues behind abortion in general is very large, this analysis will focus on the issues solely behind sex selective abortions in China. Sex selective abortion is the act of terminating a pregnancy due to an unwanted sex of the foetus, as determined by the parents [ (Goodkind, 1999) ]. The importance behind this issue is the impact it is having on the Chinese population demographics, and the discrimination between the sexes of unborn babies. In 2010 for every 100 females born, 118 males were born causing a large imbalance of the sex ratio in China [ (Ravi, 2011) ].
Part B: Relevant Facts
The most obvious fact of the issue is that preference is given to male babies, and unborn female babies are more likely to be aborted. Even though sex-selective abortions are illegal in China, there are many doctors who still risk losing their license to carry out the practise. There are multiple reasons for the preference of male babies most of which stem from family and cultural values, and the potential economic gain for the country [ (Ravi, 2011) ]. In order for a family bloodline to be passed down to another generation, families seek to have a son in order for the family name to continue on. Men were also perceived to have greater economic opportunities than women [ (Levenstein, 2011) ] thus making male babies more desired then female babies. Many demographic researchers believe that the ‘One Child Policy’ was the cause for the increase in sex-selective abortions. With this being the case in China the ‘One Child Policy’ puts pressure on families to
Part A: Ethical Issue & Importance
The news article selected for the ethical analysis is based on the ‘One Child Policy of China’; many ethical issues arise from this article and topic in general. The ethical issue that has been chosen for analysis is whether or not sex-selective abortions are ethical for families to have a desired sex of a child in China. Although the ethical issues behind abortion in general is very large, this analysis will focus on the issues solely behind sex selective abortions in China. Sex selective abortion is the act of terminating a pregnancy due to an unwanted sex of the foetus, as determined by the parents [ (Goodkind, 1999) ]. The importance behind this issue is the impact it is having on the Chinese population demographics, and the discrimination between the sexes of unborn babies. In 2010 for every 100 females born, 118 males were born causing a large imbalance of the sex ratio in China [ (Ravi, 2011) ].
Part B: Relevant Facts
The most obvious fact of the issue is that preference is given to male babies, and unborn female babies are more likely to be aborted. Even though sex-selective abortions are illegal in China, there are many doctors who still risk losing their license to carry out the practise. There are multiple reasons for the preference of male babies most of which stem from family and cultural values, and the potential economic gain for the country [ (Ravi, 2011) ]. In order for a family bloodline to be passed down to another generation, families seek to have a son in order for the family name to continue on. Men were also perceived to have greater economic opportunities than women [ (Levenstein, 2011) ] thus making male babies more desired then female babies. Many demographic researchers believe that the ‘One Child Policy’ was the cause for the increase in sex-selective abortions. With this being the case in China the ‘One Child Policy’ puts pressure on families to