When it comes to having babies, it seems women want girls and men want boys, but the population as a whole doesn’t really mind ‒ and the majority believes that parents should not be allowed to choose their child’s sex, our poll has revealed.
- When asked to imagine that they were about to have a child, 77% of the British public as a whole said that they ‘wouldn’t mind’ whether their baby was male or female
- However, men would much prefer to have a boy (14%) than a girl (6%)
- And women would much prefer a girl (14%) than a boy (5%)
Having said that, the public is strongly against the idea that parents should have the opportunity to choose their baby’s gender.
- 81% said that parents should not have the opportunity
- Just 7% said that they should
The idea of baby gender has come to the fore in the popular press in recent days as singer-turned-fashion designer and footballer couple David and Victoria Beckham announced that they are expecting their fourth child. Prior to the announcement, Victoria, who already has three boys, admitted to Vogue magazine that she wanted another baby, but wasn’t hopeful about its possible gender. ‘At this stage I think the chances of a girl are quite slim,' she said.
