Let's have a baby boy!

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to understand why one sex is preferred over the other one and if it is considered procreative autonomy, instead of simply being the choice made by the parents to ensure the sex of their future offspring. The study analyses how sex selection can be done; when it can be done, both with ancient and more modern techniques; and why it can be done, both from a medical point of view which regards the sex-linked diseases that can be inherited from one of the parents and from the point of view of achieving a certain status of life that a family can obtain if they have a boy or a girl. The analysis considers the different reasons that push one person and one society, in Western and Non-Western countries, to desire one sex and the legal systems that regulate this selection. The examination ends with the challenges that all countries must face in order to achieve gender equality and women’s rights.