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Module 8 Population Composition 125Does the simple fact of being female expose a person to social and economic peril? In most societies, women are viewed as valuable, even powerful, particularly as mothers, nurturers, teachers, and spiritual leaders. Yet in other ways, to be female is to be endangered. We will consider this controversial idea with an eye to how demographics and culture closely shape each other.Many cultures have a marked preference for males. The academic term describing this is androcentrism; you may be familiar with related terms such as patriarchy (a social system in which the father is considered the head of a household, with authority over women and children), male bias, or simply sexism. Whether a preference for males is a universal feature has been disputed. Some societies pass along forms of their wealth, property, and prestige from mother to daughter, rather than from father to son. This is rare, however, and the roots of cultural preference for males appear historically far-reaching and widespread. In most societies, positions of economic, political, social, and cultural prestige and power are held largely by men. Sons carry on family names and, with them, family honor and wealth. In some societies, sons are obligated to take care of their aging parents, but there is no such expectation for daughters. When girls marry, they are expected to move into their husbands%u2019 homes and help care for their in-laws, but not their parents.Not surprisingly, in many places a son is widely viewed as an asset, a future breadwinner and caregiver for his parents in their advanced age, but a daughter is generally seen as a liability. A cultural premium is placed on producing male children. The birth of a boy may be celebrated and rewarded, while the birth of a girl may be penalized. In countries that have enacted strict population control programs, such as China, or in countries with a preference for sons, for example, India, this has resulted in severe pressure on couples to have boys. In both China and India, female-specific abortions or infanticide, neglect, and inadequate nutrition for girls has resulted in a glaring gender imbalance. The result is a skewed sex ratio. In 2004, China recorded a sex ratio at birth of 121.2 boys for every 100 girls. The ratio has been falling steadily since then. In 2021, SUBJECT TO DEBATEFemale: An Endangered Gender?Preparing for the AP%u00ae Examit stood at 108.3 boys for every 100 girls, which is still one of the world%u2019s most imbalanced.One problem that resulted from such an unbalanced sex ratio is that men of marriageable age are unable to find female partners. By one estimate, there may be 30%u201340 million more young men than young women in China. Social analysts speculate that this will lead to human trafficking and violence against women. In recent years, several reports of kidnapped women being held captive in sheds or severely mistreated went viral in China.Continuing the DebateAs noted, most societies value females and males equally. For a number of reasons, however, some societies show a clear preference for males. Keeping all this in mind, consider the following questions:%u2022 Are Chinese and Indian families somewhat justified in prioritizing the birth of a son?%u2022 According to a recent report, Americans using technology to select their baby%u2019s gender are, unlike the Chinese, more likely to choose to have a girl. Why do you think there is a difference between male and female preference in these two societies?A woman in India protests against female infanticide in the country. NurPhoto/Getty Images%u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.