A recent study examining sex ratios among migrant populations in Australia has raised concerns about sex-selective practices influencing birth outcomes. The report, published in PLOS Global Public Health, follows over 2 million births across New South Wales and Western Australia from 1994 to 2015, uncovering disturbing evidence of male-biased sex ratios in certain immigrant communities, particularly those from India and China.
The natural sex ratio at birth hovers around 105 boys for every 100 girls. However, the study revealed a pattern of significantly higher male-to-female birth ratios in the Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese populations, with Indian-born mothers reporting a ratio of 105–109 boys per 100 girls, and Chinese-born mothers at 107–110 boys per 100 girls. This discrepancy has sparked questions about whether these imbalances stem from sex-selective practices such as prenatal gender determination and selective abortion.
Dr. Amanuel Gebremedhin, who led the study at Edith Cowan University, noted that these patterns were more pronounced among families with multiple children. The most dramatic skew occurred in third births. For instance, if an Indian-born mother already had two daughters, the likelihood of a male child as the third-born rose sharply to 132 boys per 100 girls. A similar trend was observed among Chinese-born mothers.
The study also found that this bias towards sons became even more pronounced after the availability of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in the late 2000s, which allowed parents to determine the baby’s sex as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy. This technological advance coincided with a rise in sex-selective abortions, particularly among Indian and Chinese-born mothers, whose abortion rates in early pregnancy were notably higher than those of Australian-born women. The cultural preference for sons, deeply rooted in countries like India and China, appears to persist even after migration, potentially driving these reproductive choices.
Dr. Joanna Howe, a leading advocate for women’s rights and fierce opponent of sex-selective abortions, has been instrumental in raising awareness about gender-based discrimination within Australian society. She has been vocal in confronting the disturbing trend of girls being selectively aborted simply because of their gender. Dr. Howe views this issue as symptomatic of deeper cultural biases that persist in certain migrant communities, even after they’ve settled in a more gender-equal society. As she explains, “This is the literal killing of girls just because they’re girls.”
Dr. Nisha Khot, gynaecologist and Chair of the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health, adds, “Cultural preference for sons has far-reaching consequences for the number of children, decisions around contraception, abortion, and IVF. The preference is often passed down through generations and impacts girl children who may grow up with internalised gender bias.”
While these practices are most pronounced in certain communities, the study found evidence of similar, though less pronounced, trends among migrant groups from Lebanon and the Philippines. However, no such patterns were observed among mothers from Western countries, such as the UK or New Zealand, suggesting that these issues are not widespread across all immigrant populations.
The implications of these findings are complex, and experts are divided on how best to address them. Some argue that legal and policy reforms are necessary to curb sex-selective abortions, while others believe that the issue should be tackled through broader social and cultural shifts, including education on gender equality. Dr. Howe advocates for greater attention to the root causes of this bias, stressing the need for cultural sensitivity and support for migrant families in understanding the value of both sons and daughters.
Dr. Howe also emphasised that the availability of NIPT tests and the permissive abortion laws in Australia have made sex-selective abortion more feasible. “The technology has made it easier than ever to identify a baby’s gender early, but the critical question remains: How do we balance technological advancements with our commitment to protecting all children, regardless of gender?”
The question remains: How can Australia, with its progressive stance on gender equality, confront these deeply ingrained cultural biases that lead to the selective elimination of daughters? The findings of this study provide compelling evidence that this issue warrants urgent attention and action.
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