China bubble erodes preference for sons

Patti Waldmeir

High property prices and economic development have begun to erode China's traditional preference for sons, leading to a rise in the number of Chinese parents who say they would prefer a daughter.

The centuries-old cultural preference for boys was exacerbated in recent decades by China's "one child" policy, which led to the abandonment, abortion or infanticide of millions of girls.

But the conventional wisdom - that China is a land of unwanted girls, many of them sent overseas for adoption - is being turned on its head as urbanisation increases the cost of raising male heirs and erodes the advantage of having sons to work the fields and support parents in their dotage.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at November 3, 2010 1:42 AM
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