Their son was one month old and, as dictated by Vietnamese tradition, they invited their relatives for a party. It was a big reunion, with more than 15 people celebrating the arrival of the new baby.
And because it was a baby boy, after three girls, the celebration was all the more heartfelt. Son preference in Viet Nam has deep cultural roots. It is linked to traditional Confucian beliefs, which are predominant in the country, as well as practical concerns.
The resulting skewed gender balance could have severe social consequences. The prevailing patriarchal system requires male descendants to perpetuate the family lineage across generations.
Moreover, men are considered necessary for old-age security. In addition, sons confer greater social status. A family without sons may be looked down upon by the extended family. Steadily increasing access to affordable prenatal sex determination has allowed couples to more methodically pursue their desire for having sons, leading to remarkable sex ratio at birth imbalances across much of the country.
If it was another girl, I would have had an abortion. Luckily it was a boy. Thuy and Nghe live in a small village in Bac Giang province in the northeastern part of the country, where ultrasound is not normally available. But people can easily travel to district and provincial medical facilities for the service.
