Many would say that having a child is a journey full of fascination and wonder. It is the beginning of a new life touched by the miracles of Heaven. As the nation achieves continued technological advancements, the question arises as to whether or not parents should have the right to choose the sex of their unborn child. According to the World Health Organization, “Sex selection refers to the practice of using medical techniques to choose the sex of offspring. Parents can resort to this practice when they wish to give birth to a child of a certain sex. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The use of this method is allowed in cases related to medical issues, but why might parents request it for non-medical reasons? It is clear to me that it is not because of the sex of the child, but because of the gender of the child. Parents should not be able to choose the sex of their unborn child. For starters, sex selection gives way to false stereotypes and gender roles. Liza Mundy, author of Everything Conceivable, a book on reproductive technology, says that "In the sex selection chat rooms I looked at, there were many women who couldn't wait to dress little girls in pink dresses and put cute bows in your hair." (34). The problem is that not all little girls like cute pink bows, just as not all little boys like action figures and cars. There is no exact relationship between a gender and its preferences. So why do we restrict our children? You're a girl, so you must like pink. You're a male, so you like blue. Parents should not be allowed to impose superficial cultural norms on their children for the sake of fitting into society. Additionally, EurekAlert, a global science news source, published a journal called Psychology of Women Quarterly, research that shows that gender stereotypes from over 30 years ago are still as strong as ever. It states that “beliefs about male gender roles, such as that males “fix and maintain cars,” have not changed significantly from 1983 to 2014. The increase in female gender role stereotypes appears to be the result of men being perceived as less likely than women to engage in feminine gender roles” (eurekalert.org). Our views on the role of gender have not changed for over 30 years. Everything around us has changed, technology, advances in science, everything except our views on the role of gender. If we are not suited to changing the way we think, we will not be suited to choosing the gender of our children. Without a doubt, sex selection reinforces unhealthy cultural practices. In many cultures, women are already oppressed and seen as less important and valuable than men. In 2016, approximately 708 million people in China were men, while nearly 675 million were women (statista.com). China's one-child policy has been a major factor in this gender imbalance, along with cultural factors. Many couples believed that boys were more likely to have a job, have a stable job, and be able to support their family. On the other hand, girls were seen as a liability. As a result, they often aborted after finding out that the sex of their baby was female. A similar situation occurs in India. Gender imbalance is the result of sex-selective abortions. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Second.