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From: taylor@hplabsc.UUCP (Dave Taylor)
Newsgroups: mod.comp-soc
Subject: Re: Selecting the sex...
Message-ID: <707@hplabsc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 2-Oct-86 21:24:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: hplabsc.707
Posted: Thu Oct  2 21:24:29 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 4-Oct-86 06:54:43 EDT
Reply-To: hplabs!well!mandel@hplabs.HP.COM
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
Lines: 31
Approved: taylor@hplabs
Reference: <693@hplabsc.UUCP>

This article is from hplabs!well!mandel (Thomas F. Mandel)
 and was received on Thu Oct  2 09:44:29 1986
 
>What about a technology for pre-selecting the sex of one's child?

Well, the only substantial issue here, in my view, involves upsetting
the natural balance of so many girl babies versus so many boy babies.
I am not sure what the specific outcomes will be -- critics will
undoubtedly argue that most people will feel inclined to choose
boys (because girls still have somewhat lower status, even in modern
societies) -- but I would be generally concerned about the long-term
impacts on the makeup of human populations.  Beyond this, if there is
a significant shift resulting, toward more boys or more girls, there
would eventually be *profound* social and political repercussions
having to do with the roles and status of each gender in society.

Personally, I don't share the concerns of the moralists who may claim
that such practices are against "God's plans" for us.  But as is often
the case, the underlying issue reflected in the moralists' position is
worth attending to.  And it is the question of a healthy balance of
men and women in future populations.

I have no idea whether the advertised technology is as effective as
its promoters indicate.  Whether it is or not is probably beside the
point, because if this technology doesn't do the trick, someone will
come along soon with another that does have this effect.

I can elaborate on impact scenarios of too many women or too many men
if there's an interest.

Tom Mandel 		  ...well!mandel 		mandel@sri-kl.arpa