Pros And Cons Of Nonmedical Sex Selection

Is Nonmedical Sex Selection Ethical?
Ever since sex selection became an increasingly popular option for conceiving parents, there has been controversy concerning the ethics of the procedure. Supporters of the use of sex selection for nonmedical purposes say that it is as simple as supporting "freedom of choice". On the other hand, those who disagree with nonmedical sex selection argue that those in favor are ignoring the full consequences of the procedure. They claim that the practice of nonmedical sex selection has already strengthened gender bias and misconceptions of gender identity and will continue to do so as long as it remains legalized. So in the end, should nonmedical sex selection remain legal in the United States?
The most common argument in favor of sex selection is parents’ freedom of choice when it comes to the gender of their child, falling into the category that “people should be able to decide for themselves what kind of life they want to live, including the ‘right’ to make decisions about choices as personal as when, with whom and how to have children” (Kalfoglou et al.

For example, “[i]f a girl born into a patriarchal society is more likely to be neglected or abused, it might be ethically better to allow the parents to choose the sex of their child before it is even conceived” (Kalfoglou et al. 233). Rykova includes in her article that "if the community is deeply sexist, then the principal of harm justifies the procedure in question" (15). Sex selection, others argue, may also protect the women who are conceiving the child, particularly those living in oppressive societies. In some Asian cultures, women are so far as ostracized by their families and even face the fear of divorce if they fail to conceive male offspring (Kalfoglou et al.