What's in a choice? Ethical, cultural and social dimensions of sex selection in China

Abstract

This paper describes the situation of sex selection in China and the related ethical debate, from the perspective of philosophical ethics. It begins with a discussion of the analytical-bioethical standard approach to sex selection, and explains, why it is methodologically inadequate as well as ethically barren. It gives a summarizing account of the empirical status of sex-selection in China, building on empirical studies about the phenomenon of “missing girls” and gender discrimination, and analyzes the relevant cultural and ethical circumstances. It introduces the recent governance measures and elaborates the ethical discussion in China. The paper concludes with a reflection on sex-selection in China, and eugenics. The main thesis is that, in contemporary China, it would be inappropriate to assess the issues of sex selection in terms of “freedom of choice” or as an “individual's right to independent procreative decision making”. Hence, it argues, any attempt to declare the de facto practice in China on face value as an expression of individual, social or cultural self-determination is fundamentally flawed, would be unsympathetic to the affected population and could merely support political and social apologetics. Whereas we cannot draw much advice from China about proper sex-selection, discussion of the Chinese situation re-emphasizes the pertinent ethical perspective, as a universal humanitarian concern.