Picking your child's sex?

honeychile · #1 01-20-2004, 03:50 PM

Should parents be permitted to select the sex of their children? This week's Newsweek addresses this question.

I admit that I'd rather see this technology over aborting a child once you've discovered it's the "wrong" sex. I can also understand parents with gender-specific genetic diseases using this technology.

What do you all think about this?

ISUKappa · #2 01-20-2004, 05:04 PM

Interesting. I don't think I can say I agree with the practice. I'd rather see science keep focusing on helping those families that are suffering from infertility or genetic problems in trying to conceive than allowing a family who already has 3 healthy children of one gender get "the one they wanted" of the other. But, it is their money and their lives, so who am I to tell them what they can and cannot do. It is alarming sometimes how far science can actually go. When Mr. ISUKappa and I decide it's time to have children, we will gladly welcome whatever gender we are blessed with, even if that means we end up with 12 boys!

(Then hubby would be happy--he'd have a football team!)

aurora_borealis · #3 01-20-2004, 05:15 PM

If and when I have children I don't want to know the gender until the arrival in the delivery room. Have to have some surprise in life! So I don't think I would be picking a gender ahead of time.

Look at China and the problems there. One child only, boys are favored...and now there are all these boys and no girls for them to marry. Though this has made some dreams of being a parent come true through adoption in the states, it is still heartbreaking.

I have a whole other issue (and we'll save it for another thread) on the fertility treatments that result in lots of children (and some may have to be aborted due to health risks) and really invasive treatments, when there are so many children that need loving parents and good homes.

Lil' Hannah · #4 01-20-2004, 05:18 PM

Quote:

"We've been offering sperm sorting for 20 years without any stipulations. Now, in 2004, I can offer almost 100 percent success with PGD. Why would I make it less available?"

I kinda have to agree with that. I don't know how I feel morally about being able to choose the gender of a child, but if the procedure (that's not really the word I'm looking for) is available, and a family is willing to pay to have it done, how can you say "well couple A can choose but couple B, you can't". I don't know.

One thing I do know is that this is a hot 15 year old.

Mrs. Toedtman, lock up your son!

ThetaGrrl · #5 01-20-2004, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lil' Hannah
Mrs. Toedtman, lock up your son!

Greek Chat never ceases to crack me up!

Anyway, I agree with aurora_borealis. I want to be suprised when I have a kid. It just seems like the way it is supposed to be. Any other way feels like opening up your presents before your birthday. This seems like it could go too far- which it suggests in the article. I mean, if we are picking gender now, then what's next? Doing that would make me feel kinda Nazi-ish.

On a side note, I never in a million years want to do the pink/blue pastel crap for my kids. <gags>

carnation · #6 01-20-2004, 06:37 PM

I can see both sides of this. On the one hand, it seems selfish and it's said that it would result in an overabundance of boys, who would then have no girls to marry.

On the other hand, I have taught--in ESOL class--women from other countries who had abortions in the last trimester solely because they found out they were carrying girls. I cried.

Tippiechick · #7 01-20-2004, 06:43 PM

Well, I would never pick the sex of my child. I won't tell someone else that they can't, though. However, I do think it's a bit like playing God.

As for finding out the sex ahead of time, it was simply practical for us to know the sex so that we could plan ahead. I have three baby showers coming up and did not want my child to end up with a million green and yellow items simply b/c no one knew what to give us. Plus, I am really not patient enough to wait it out. I don't know how my mom made it (except that the same way I knew I was carrying a boy, she knew she was carrying a girl).

ETA: I just wanted to note that we found out the sex at the ultrasound... We did not PICK the sex

LOL, husband thought it read like we had picked the gender...

XOAlumXO · #8 01-20-2004, 07:30 PM

I would never want to choose the sex of my child. I believe that God has the say so, not me. God ultimately knows what I need, whether it be a boy or a girl. And I am perfectly fine with that. I love suprises.

tri-d · #9 01-20-2004, 09:25 PM

I read this article as well, and I am still on the fence. For my first child, all I care about is that he/she is healthy. Perhaps on my second child I would be a little more apt to choosing the sex but 2 things would stop me--first, the price tag ($18k GEEZ) and second, call me a sentimentalist, but I still like to believe destiny has a role in our lives.

PhiPsiRuss · #10 01-20-2004, 09:28 PM

This thread disgusts me. Children should not have sex, and parents should not get involved in selecting how they do it. Its just wrong.

honeychile · #11 01-20-2004, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by carnation
I can see both sides of this. On the one hand, it seems selfish and it's said that it would result in an overabundance of boys, who would then have no girls to marry.

On the other hand, I have taught--in ESOL class--women from other countries who had abortions in the last trimester solely because they found out they were carrying girls. I cried.

Late abortion (in particular) upsets me, too.

The other part that tilts the balance for me (to allow it, anyhow) is the genetic disease factor. If you knew that you & your spouse were carriers of a certain gender-related disease (ie: hemophelia), wouldn't you want to lessen the risk?

I'm still on the fence with this one.

Munchkin03 · #12 01-20-2004, 10:17 PM

I'm not sure about this, either. On one hand, it would allow people to prevent having a child born with sex-linked genetic disorders. Also, I would rather someone have a child that they wanted--I imagine there's nothing worse than being an unwanted child. If this means one less child is brutalized or neglected, I'm all for that aspect. If it means one less late-term abortion, I'm all for that.

I'm against, however, the selfish aspects of it. If I ever have children, I want to be surprised--I don't need that perfect family with a mommy, daddy, one boy and one girl in a Colonial house with a picket fence. It just seems silly to me to determine sex for the equal numbers.

Rudey · #13 01-20-2004, 10:57 PM

Can you pick whether he/she's gay?

-Rudey
--Why not it seems.

Lil' Hannah · #14 01-20-2004, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
Can you pick whether he/she's gay?

-Rudey
--Why not it seems.

If they discover that there is a gene for it then yes, you could.

AchtungBaby80 · #15 01-20-2004, 11:53 PM

I know some people who did this, because they already had a girl and felt they needed a boy, and they wanted take as few chances as possible. I don't know...people should do what they want, but I can think of better ways to spend my money if those were my reasons for doing it.