Dirty Little Secret: Parents Prefer Boys

Netscape (originally from Slate) ^ | 10/15 | Netscape

[laurav]

Dirty Little Secret: Parents Prefer Boys

It's a dirty little secret that you'll want to hide from your daughters: Boys hold their parents' marriages together, while girls break them up.

That's the word from two leading economists at the University of Rochester and the University of California, Los Angeles who maintain that in the United States the parents of a girl are nearly 5 percent more likely to divorce than the parents of a boy, reports Slate magazine. The more daughters a couple has, the greater the chance of a marital split. For example, the parents of three girls are almost 10 percent more likely to divorce than the parents of three boys.

And the risk of divorce climbs even higher in other countries, including Mexico, Colombia, and Kenya. In Vietnam, the chance of divorce for parents of daughters is a surprisingly high 25 percent.

The big question is WHY? Economists Gordon Dahl of Rochester and Enrico Moretti of UCLA have been positing theories, and it pretty much comes down to these two, they told Slate:

Theory No. 1: Sons improve the quality of married life, which suggests that having a son is a blessing.

Theory No. 2: Sons exacerbate the pain of divorce, which suggests that having a son is a curse--or at least would be if the parents split up.

And here's the real shocker: Dahl and Moretti insist that American parents have a strong preference for sons over daughters. This is the evidence they offer:

Mothers of daughters who are divorced are far less likely to remarry than divorced mothers of sons, suggesting that daughters are a liability.

Parents who have only girls are more likely than parents who have only boys to try yet again for a child of the opposite gender.

When an unmarried couple is expecting a baby, they are more likely to get married if the ultrasound shows that the child is a boy.

[laurav]

I am trying to figure out the hidden correlation-is-not-causation element here. Any ideas?

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[LittleLassieDog]

I wonder if the same is true for gay partners, although it might be different with them, since they have to adopt to get children.

[MontanaBeth]

This is bizarre, I can't even begin to understand their reasoning and to be honest I'm glad of that fact. It's a load of c**P.

[rdb3]

I've sired no children yet, but when I do, I pray to God above not to have daughters.

But if He decides to give daughters to me, I guess I'll just have to keep trying until rdb4 arrives. If there's an rdb5, that'll be his business...

[DeFault User]

Perhaps mothers feel more comfortable raising a girl alone than a boy.

[DeFault User]

I've sired no children yet, but when I do, I pray to God above not to have daughters.

You say that now, but wait until you have a daughter. They can be papa's pride and joy.

[Mo1]

Los Angeles who maintain that in the United States the parents of a girl are nearly 5 percent more likely to divorce than the parents of a boy, reports Slate magazine. The more daughters a couple has, the greater the chance of a marital split. For example, the parents of three girls are almost 10 percent more likely to divorce than the parents of three boys.

My grandparents had 8 girls and they never divorced .. but then again, Papa did died first

Hmmmm .. I have all girls, I guess my marriage is DOOMED

[Consort]

Children are hereditary. If your parents didn't have any, chances are good that you won't either.

[Norse]

I'm not sure if it is a load of c**p. In China, girls are often aborted or disowned because boys are extremely preferential. Boys are the ones who win resources for the family and carry on the faily names. The men spread their genes where they will, so to speak. That probably has something to do with it. It has more to do with "continuing oneself" and oneself "continues further" if one has a boy...hope that makes sense.

[Pete]

parents of a girl are nearly 5 percent more likely to divorce than the parents of a boy

What is the margin of error in the study?

Also, I find it hard to believe that the gender of the children is a material factor given other factors such as religious practice, economic situation, prior beliefs about divorce, etc.

BTW, I have four daughters and my wife and I are doing just fine, thank you.

[Lloyd227]

 I just could not resist posting these.........

  10 Simple Rules for dating my daughter

  Rule One

If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a pizza, because you're sure not picking anything up.

  Rule Two

You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.

  Rule Three

I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, In  order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

  Rule Four

I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate: when it comes to sex with my daughter, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.

  Rule Five

In order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."

  Rule Six

I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

  Rule Seven

As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

  Rule Eight

The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka zipped up to her throat. Movies  with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies that feature chainsaws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.

  Rule Nine

Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a pot-bellied, balding, middle-aged, dim-witted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am like the all-knowing God of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

  Rule Ten

Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy outside of Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

 

 

[TontoKowalski]

My Dad had an interesting observation after raising my sister and me. With me, he was worried about what one pecker was doing. With my sister, he had to worry about dozens.

Tonto: Proud Father of one boy. One and done.

[WilliamWallace1999]

Dittos to that. I have four daughters and our marriage is stronger since our "little surprise" at age 41 than it was before.

This article is a load of crap to stir the "sex-baiting" politics of gender.

[rdb3]

You say that now, but wait until you have a daughter. They can be papa's pride and joy.

I understand what you are saying. For instance, I have three nieces in whom I love dearly. The youngest is three, and I adore that little girl.

I am the reason that I don't want daughters. I know how I was as a teen, so the thought of having to protect my own daughter from that frightens me.

[hispanarepublicana]

I can't imagine what the teenage years would've been like for us if he'd been a girl........Oh yeah, that's right...I WAS a teenage girl once! Thank GOD he was a boy.

[Gabz]

Hmmmm .. I have all girls, I guess my marriage is DOOMED

I only have a daughter, guess I'm in the same boat!!!

OTOH, my ex had 3 sons from his first marriage.

[bmwcyle]

Ten fingers and ten toes are my favorite.

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!!!!!

Pinging my husband to this post!!!!!!

[laurav]

Perhaps in China or India that would make sense, but why here? I think daughters are as likely to take care of parents in their old age as boys. I'm really fascinated by the idea that unmarried parents are more likely to get married if the child is a boy. Maybe it is that women are more comfortable raising a girl alone, but worry about providing male role models for their boys.