Sex selection in Asia
Great article in the NY Times regarding a reversal in South Korea of the long-term trend in modernizing Asian countries towards heavily male-skewed populations. Apparently, ratios are so out-of-whack due to abortion of female fetuses that China has something like 120 boys for each 100 girls in younger age cohorts. South Korea's ratio has now dropped to 107 boys to 100 girls.
What are the likely effects of these skewed ratios on politics in the 21st Century? The United Nations Population fund warns of sexual violence and human trafficking as the main concerns. I'd like to propose others.
In the US, females tend to favor progressive causes and candidates. No Democrat can be elected president without winning the women's vote by a wide (60%? 70%?) margin. Without any evidence, I'd be willing to bet that similar trends will shape emerging democracies in Asia. We ought to expect more market-driven economic policies, higher defense spending, and more conservative social structures than would have dominated had the population hewed more closely to the natural gender ratio.
What are the likely effects of these skewed ratios on politics in the 21st Century? The United Nations Population fund warns of sexual violence and human trafficking as the main concerns. I'd like to propose others.
In the US, females tend to favor progressive causes and candidates. No Democrat can be elected president without winning the women's vote by a wide (60%? 70%?) margin. Without any evidence, I'd be willing to bet that similar trends will shape emerging democracies in Asia. We ought to expect more market-driven economic policies, higher defense spending, and more conservative social structures than would have dominated had the population hewed more closely to the natural gender ratio.
posted by Moses Kagan at
3:43 PM
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