Introduction
The increasing pace of reproductive technologies’ development allows for more options for those having difficulty conceiving a baby. One of the most debated bioethical issues concerning these innovations is the possibility of selecting the sex of a future baby. Some may argue that this opportunity increases parents’ autonomy and broadens the limits of personal choice. However, the option of selecting the baby’s sex is connected to several arguments urging society to be cautious against this practice. Sex selection is associated with the risk of gender imbalance, commodification of human life, and potential health risks.
Dangers of Sex Selection
Gender Imbalance
The first and foremost concern of sex selection is the threat of gender imbalance. There are societies in which a particular gender is preferred, which can lead to a twisted sex ratio. Research indicates that the chance of finding out the baby’s sex very early in gestation makes the practice of sex-selective pregnancy termination a rather pressing issue (Bowman‐Smart, Savulescu, Gyngell, Mand, & Delatycki, 2019). This has already been noticed in China, India, and South Korea (Das Gupta, 2019).
Such a disproportion threatens not only to disrupt the natural balance but also to increase crime and human trafficking rates. Furthermore, such practice causes complications in the process of finding mates. Ultimately, gender imbalance contributes to the marginalization and devaluation of the sex that is less preferred, encouraging inequality.
Commodification of Human Life
While not as evident as gender imbalance, the commodification of human life is an even more appalling outcome of sex selection. When parents choose the baby’s traits, such as gender, they convert the process of reproduction into a business matter. Under such circumstances, a baby becomes a product that can be designed and manufactured, which severely sabotages the value and dignity of human life.
According to Bayefsky (2018), there is an extremely high percentage of sex selection for couples without infertility, meaning that they undergo in vitro fertilization only for the sake of choosing the baby’s sex. The problem is that there is no regulatory board for such diagnostics in the USA (Bayefsky, 2018). As a result, people may soon find themselves living in a society that values children not for their individualism but for some selected traits.
Health Risks
Apart from ethical and bioethical issues, sex selection can also cause potential health risks. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis involves invasive procedures, which can harm the mother or the embryo in some instances. Moreover, such procedures can raise the probability of multiple pregnancies, which poses certain health complications (Bowman‐Smart et al., 2019). Hence, sex selection is a negative phenomenon not only in the social but also in the healthcare dimension.
Conclusion
In conclusion, although sex selection entitles parents to a higher level of control, it generates ethical, social, and healthcare problems. The threats to undermine gender ratios, make human life a commodity, and risk maternal and infant health are too crucial to be neglected. As new reproductive technologies continue to emerge, it is essential to remain on the side of equality and uphold the universal values of dignity and respect for all lives.
References
Bayefsky, M. (2019). Who should regulate preimplantation genetic diagnosis in the United States?AMA Journal of Ethics, 20(12), 1160-1167. Web.
Bowman‐Smart, H., Savulescu, J., Gyngell, C., Mand, C., & Delatycki, M. B. (2019). Sex selection and non‐invasive prenatal testing: A review of current practices, evidence, and ethical issues. Prenatal Diagnosis, 40, 398-407.
Das Gupta, M. (2019). Is banning sex-selection the best approach for reducing prenatal discrimination?Asian Population Studies, 15(3), 319-336. Web.
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