Boy or girl? Examining changes in parental gender preferences

Abstract

Traditional Confucian family values in Singapore contributed to the certain characteristics of the type of family unit one should have. This includes the son preference where boys are preferred over girls by parents. However, as a fast-growing country, modernity and social forces has weakened this preference over time. In the past to align with our developing society, the Singapore government created birth policies that had a significant impact on the son preference for parents. This impact was strengthened alongside the greater acceptance of woman in most countries with feminist movements fighting for women’s freedom. This paper seeks to explore the changes in the son preference of families and its effects on gender equality in Singapore. Have these changes reflected gender equality in our society? These changes are measured across the various generations in Singapore. Inter-generational opinions will contribute to these changes in son preferences and the trend of gender equality in Singapore. As such, we will see the various trends of gender preference and equality in our developed modern society.