Congratulations… it's not a boy! How gender stereotypes are shifting as families embrace daughters
PARIS, June 23 — While for centuries it was more socially desirable to give birth to a boy, this 'tradition' is losing ground, or even reversing. This paradigm shift can be explained by recent advances in the fight for gender equality, but also (and paradoxically) by certain gender clichés that are still very much alive.
In a society still very much centred around the male/female binary, an individual's gender identity remains paramount in people's minds, even before birth. Indeed, since the widespread use of ultrasound scans in the 1980s, parents have been able to find out from as early as the second trimester (and sometimes earlier) whether they are expecting a girl or a boy. According to research by The French National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), published in December 2023, nine in ten parents (91 per cent) in France know the sex of their child before birth. They explain that this information can help them choose clothes and decorate their future offspring's bedroom. But while this curiosity may indeed be driven by practical considerations (material preparation, choice of name), it actually goes much further, and reflects strongly gendered cultural preferences.
In the USA, this phenomenon is amplified by the rise of 'gender reveal parties,' highly fashionable events specially organised (as the name suggests) to reveal the gender of an unborn child. During these parties, which can be extravagant, all kinds of scenarios are staged, which sometimes involve parents discovering their baby's sex at the same time as their guests. This could be, for example, by bursting balloons filled with blue confetti (for a boy) or pink confetti (for a girl). But such revelations are not always insignificant. For some parents, the party can even turn sour if the announced result doesn't meet their expectations. For in many cultures, and for centuries, raising a girl or a boy has not been perceived or valued in the same way. And, the scales have traditionally tipped in favour of boys.
According to the INED survey cited above, around 46 per cent of women and 41 per cent of men in France admit to having had a gender preference during pregnancy: 25 per cent of mothers hoped to have a girl and 20 per cent a boy. The trend is reversed for fathers: 23 per cent would have preferred a son and 18 per cent a daughter. According to a YouGov poll released in 2023, 56 per cent of Americans said they had no preference between a boy or a girl, while 19 per cent preferred a boy and 15 per cent a girl. A series of Gallup polls conducted in the US shows that between 1941 and 2018, an average of 40 per cent of Americans would prefer a boy and 28 per cent a girl. These gaps have narrowed over time. Today, the preference for male or female is most evident among parents who have multiple children and wish to have 'one of each.'
Sex-selective terminations
But it's a different story in some cultures, particularly in several Asian and Eastern European countries, where sex-selective abortion (voluntary termination of pregnancy due to disappointment with the sex of the unborn child) is practiced, despite bans. In these countries, the ratio of girls to boys born is very uneven. This is the case in India, where the birth ratio is estimated at 107 girls for every 100 boys in 2023, as well as in China (111 boys for every 100 girls in 2023), reports The Economist. This clear historical cultural preference for boys is also evident in other countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. In addition to sex-selective abortions, there are also parents who try to conceive another child in the hope of obtaining the desired sex. Some countries, such as Cyprus and the United States, even allow sex selection before conception through IVF, via a process known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
There are many reasons why having a baby boy might be more highly valued, based on ancestral patriarchal traditions and beliefs that are deeply rooted in societies. For example, it is traditionally believed (including in Western cultures) that it is men who carry on the family name, who are eligible to receive the family inheritance, and who ensure the financial security of the household. And in some countries where religious practices play a prominent role, certain rites and rituals are the sole preserve of men.
Globally, the annual number of excess male births has fallen from a peak of 1.7 million in 2000 to around 200,000, bringing it back to the biological norm of a birth ratio of 105 boys to 100 girls, according to The Economist. — Aditya Romansa/Unsplash pic
Shifting perceptions
However, this trend is now reversing for the first time. As early as 2019, an article in the New York Times noted this change. This is the case in Albania, South Korea, China, and India, where the gap between female and male births has narrowed considerably. Globally, the annual number of excess male births has fallen from a peak of 1.7 million in 2000 to around 200,000, bringing it back to the biological norm of a birth ratio of 105 boys to 100 girls, according to The Economist. But gender stereotypes still persist: girls, for example, are still perceived as being 'easier' to raise or better placed to care for elderly parents, which may partly explain this sudden 'appeal' of the female sex.
But this paradigm shift can also be explained by a growing awareness of gender issues. Some countries have implemented policy measures and are raising public awareness of this issue in order to reduce the gender imbalance at birth. For example, China has banned sex-selective abortions, and in 2015 the Indian government launched a major awareness campaign called 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter).
For their part, researchers and essayists contribute to advancing the debate by analysing sociological trends through the lens of gender. In many areas of society, acts of violence are predominantly committed by men. Indeed, the picture is not always a flattering one when it comes to the male gender. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, men make up between 93 per cent and 94 per cent of the global prison population. Men are also less qualified than women. In rich countries, 54 per cent of young women have a higher education degree, compared to 41 per cent of young men, according to an OECD report published in 2023. Based on these statistics, raising girls may appear more reassuring than raising boys.
On the whole, this shift can be perceived as a positive societal development, as it is based (at least in part) on beliefs directly conveyed by the fight for gender equality, in the wake of international campaigns such as the #MeToo movement. — ETX Studio
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Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Congratulations… it's not a boy! How gender stereotypes are shifting as families embrace daughters
PARIS, June 23 — While for centuries it was more socially desirable to give birth to a boy, this 'tradition' is losing ground, or even reversing. This paradigm shift can be explained by recent advances in the fight for gender equality, but also (and paradoxically) by certain gender clichés that are still very much alive. In a society still very much centred around the male/female binary, an individual's gender identity remains paramount in people's minds, even before birth. Indeed, since the widespread use of ultrasound scans in the 1980s, parents have been able to find out from as early as the second trimester (and sometimes earlier) whether they are expecting a girl or a boy. According to research by The French National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), published in December 2023, nine in ten parents (91 per cent) in France know the sex of their child before birth. They explain that this information can help them choose clothes and decorate their future offspring's bedroom. But while this curiosity may indeed be driven by practical considerations (material preparation, choice of name), it actually goes much further, and reflects strongly gendered cultural preferences. In the USA, this phenomenon is amplified by the rise of 'gender reveal parties,' highly fashionable events specially organised (as the name suggests) to reveal the gender of an unborn child. During these parties, which can be extravagant, all kinds of scenarios are staged, which sometimes involve parents discovering their baby's sex at the same time as their guests. This could be, for example, by bursting balloons filled with blue confetti (for a boy) or pink confetti (for a girl). But such revelations are not always insignificant. For some parents, the party can even turn sour if the announced result doesn't meet their expectations. For in many cultures, and for centuries, raising a girl or a boy has not been perceived or valued in the same way. And, the scales have traditionally tipped in favour of boys. According to the INED survey cited above, around 46 per cent of women and 41 per cent of men in France admit to having had a gender preference during pregnancy: 25 per cent of mothers hoped to have a girl and 20 per cent a boy. The trend is reversed for fathers: 23 per cent would have preferred a son and 18 per cent a daughter. According to a YouGov poll released in 2023, 56 per cent of Americans said they had no preference between a boy or a girl, while 19 per cent preferred a boy and 15 per cent a girl. A series of Gallup polls conducted in the US shows that between 1941 and 2018, an average of 40 per cent of Americans would prefer a boy and 28 per cent a girl. These gaps have narrowed over time. Today, the preference for male or female is most evident among parents who have multiple children and wish to have 'one of each.' Sex-selective terminations But it's a different story in some cultures, particularly in several Asian and Eastern European countries, where sex-selective abortion (voluntary termination of pregnancy due to disappointment with the sex of the unborn child) is practiced, despite bans. In these countries, the ratio of girls to boys born is very uneven. This is the case in India, where the birth ratio is estimated at 107 girls for every 100 boys in 2023, as well as in China (111 boys for every 100 girls in 2023), reports The Economist. This clear historical cultural preference for boys is also evident in other countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. In addition to sex-selective abortions, there are also parents who try to conceive another child in the hope of obtaining the desired sex. Some countries, such as Cyprus and the United States, even allow sex selection before conception through IVF, via a process known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis. There are many reasons why having a baby boy might be more highly valued, based on ancestral patriarchal traditions and beliefs that are deeply rooted in societies. For example, it is traditionally believed (including in Western cultures) that it is men who carry on the family name, who are eligible to receive the family inheritance, and who ensure the financial security of the household. And in some countries where religious practices play a prominent role, certain rites and rituals are the sole preserve of men. Globally, the annual number of excess male births has fallen from a peak of 1.7 million in 2000 to around 200,000, bringing it back to the biological norm of a birth ratio of 105 boys to 100 girls, according to The Economist. — Aditya Romansa/Unsplash pic Shifting perceptions However, this trend is now reversing for the first time. As early as 2019, an article in the New York Times noted this change. This is the case in Albania, South Korea, China, and India, where the gap between female and male births has narrowed considerably. Globally, the annual number of excess male births has fallen from a peak of 1.7 million in 2000 to around 200,000, bringing it back to the biological norm of a birth ratio of 105 boys to 100 girls, according to The Economist. But gender stereotypes still persist: girls, for example, are still perceived as being 'easier' to raise or better placed to care for elderly parents, which may partly explain this sudden 'appeal' of the female sex. But this paradigm shift can also be explained by a growing awareness of gender issues. Some countries have implemented policy measures and are raising public awareness of this issue in order to reduce the gender imbalance at birth. For example, China has banned sex-selective abortions, and in 2015 the Indian government launched a major awareness campaign called 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter). For their part, researchers and essayists contribute to advancing the debate by analysing sociological trends through the lens of gender. In many areas of society, acts of violence are predominantly committed by men. Indeed, the picture is not always a flattering one when it comes to the male gender. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, men make up between 93 per cent and 94 per cent of the global prison population. Men are also less qualified than women. In rich countries, 54 per cent of young women have a higher education degree, compared to 41 per cent of young men, according to an OECD report published in 2023. Based on these statistics, raising girls may appear more reassuring than raising boys. On the whole, this shift can be perceived as a positive societal development, as it is based (at least in part) on beliefs directly conveyed by the fight for gender equality, in the wake of international campaigns such as the #MeToo movement. — ETX Studio
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
How to deal with passive-aggressive people at work
When faced with a colleague who is passive-aggressive, responding with direct aggression can be counterproductive. (Envato Elements pic) PARIS : They accept your requests with a smile, then conveniently 'forget' every deadline. They compliment you on your presentation, pointing out that they can 'finally' see your efforts. Or they suddenly disappear from your online work chats without explanation. These colleagues have mastered the art of passive-aggressive behaviour, that invisible form of violence that poisons the air without leaving a trace. These behaviours, particularly prevalent in the workplace, constitute a form of covert aggression that is difficult to identify and combat. Unlike open conflicts, they play on ambiguity and leave those on the receiving end helpless in the face of indirect but repeated attacks. The psychological impact can be devastating, including loss of confidence, chronic stress, feelings of isolation, and constant questioning of one's own perceptions. The good news is, understanding the psychological drivers behind passive aggression can help you protect yourself. Such behaviour stems from a desire for status and hypersensitivity to criticism, as Daniel Waldeck and Rachael Leggett from Coventry University explain in an article on The Conversation. Vulnerable narcissists use these strategies to maintain their position without exposing themselves to direct criticism. Being excluded from an event at work or having their ideas ignored can trigger a defensive reaction. Rather than openly expressing their frustration, they opt for indirect methods. These mechanisms manifest themselves in warning signs that are easy to recognise once identified. Social exclusion is one of the preferred tactics: avoiding eye contact in meetings, remaining silent in response to work-related messages, or deliberately excluding certain individuals from team communications. Backhanded compliments are another weapon of choice – 'Well done on that presentation. You did a great job, for once'- planting doubt under the guise of kindness. Added to this are indirect criticism, which involves 'innocently' sharing embarrassing anecdotes in public, and sabotage through procrastination. The latter involves systematically postponing shared tasks until the last minute, turning the passive-aggressive person's personal urgency into collective stress. Research on this subject reveals that repeated exposure to these behaviours causes anxiety, depression, and a significant drop in self-esteem among victims, accompanied by a growing sense of powerlessness. The psychological impact of having to cope with passive aggression include loss of confidence, stress, feelings of isolation, and wondering if one's own perceptions are accurate. (Envato Elements pic) When faced with this kind of behaviour, responding with direct aggression is counterproductive and only fuels the cycle of tension. There are several effective approaches to regaining control. Setting clear boundaries is the first line of defence. For example, calmly express your expectations by saying, 'I've noticed that you haven't responded to my messages for three days. I'm available to talk when you're ready to communicate.' At the same time, 'grey rocking', a technique that involves becoming as uninteresting as possible during interactions, deprives the other person of the emotional reaction they seek. So, if faced with a barbed question like, 'Are you leaving already?', a simple 'mmm' discourages further provocation. Always make sure you protect your mental well-being. Resist internalising comments from passive-aggressive colleagues by reminding yourself that their behaviour reflects their own insecurities. Cultivate your personal life and friendships outside the office to maintain perspective. If these problematic behaviours come from your superiors, document everything: emails, incidents, dates, etc. This traceability will protect you if the situation escalates. Don't hesitate to alert HR with concrete evidence or seek support from trusted colleagues. The goal is not to change the passive-aggressive person's behaviour but to control your own reactions to it, to create an environment where such behavior becomes ineffective. By focusing on what you can do, you regain control of your professional experience. Remember that their power ends where your indifference begins.
Free Malaysia Today
16-06-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
When bosses thrive on humiliating employees
Some managers use shouting and humiliation as tools to enforce compliance or assert their authority. (Envato Elements pic) PARIS : From offices to construction sites, toxic management poisons many professional environments with behaviour like shouting, humiliation, inappropriate comments and more. However, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA) is challenging our understanding of this phenomenon. This kind of abusive behaviour does not always signal a loss of control, owing to stress or tiredness, for example. Some managers use it as a carefully calculated strategy. This insight came to Szu-Han Lin, professor of management at UGA's Terry College of Business, while watching 'Hell's Kitchen'. In this television show, two teams of chefs compete for a position as head chef in a restaurant. This all takes place under the watchful eye and, above all, the harsh comments of British chef Gordon Ramsay. Over the course of the episodes, we see him yelling, humiliating, and sometimes even insulting the contestants – for hours on end. Millions watch this spectacle without batting an eye. Lin, however, saw it as a subject of study. Her team interviewed 100 supervisors from various sectors, including construction, nursing and retail. Then, in a second phase, 249 other managers were monitored daily for two weeks. The questions were simple: why do you mistreat your employees? And how do you feel afterward? When abuse becomes a management tool Their answers are insightful but disturbing: some supervisors openly admit to using shouting and humiliation as management tools to enforce compliance or assert their authority. And unlike those who crack under pressure, these managers feel no guilt. Worse still, they feel a sense of satisfaction. Researcher Szu-Han Lin was inspired by the 'bad behaviour' of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. (Fox pic) 'If they engage in these behaviours with a goal in mind, like boosting compliance or preserving their identity as leaders, they're satisfying an emotional need,' Lin explained. This discovery challenges decades of research on the subject. 'We have been studying abusive behaviour in the workplace for 20 years, and we have known it always has bad outcomes for performance and productivity,' the researcher said. 'But we also know that people keep doing it. 'We assumed that if managers engaged in these behaviours, they'd feel bad and it would always have a negative effect on them. But that's not the case.' For Lin, this new awareness must change the way managers are trained. 'It's important for leaders to recognise they may have motivations for acting abusively to help them find better leadership tools,' she explained. 'You may want your followers to listen to you, or you may want to make sure you establish your role as a leader. That's fine, but there are other ways to achieve that.' Regardless of the motivations, managerial mistreatment remains counterproductive, as it destroys motivation instead of stimulating it. 'If you engage in abusive behaviours, it will always lead to negative outcomes. No one will be motivated at all,' Lin concluded. It's a lesson that should give pause to anyone who thinks that authority goes hand in hand with brutality.
