Korea was an agricultural society until the 1960s. Because sons could help with farm work more than daughters, it was important to bear sons. Though our society haschanged into an industrial society, most people still want to give birth to a son. I'd like to talk about this problem.
　　　 First of all, people's desire to bear a son has destroyed the sexual balance in our society. Men and women must maintain the proper balance by provisions of nature. In the past, when babies were born, the number of sons was a little larger than that of daughters. But when they grewup and got married, the number of sons was nearly equal to that of daughters. But nowadays Korea has made remarkable progress in medical science so that people can know what sex a baby is during the period of maternity. If the sex of a fetus is different from that of the baby a couple want, they sometimes have an artificial abortion. In my opinion, this is a crime. They are only the parents; they can't kill their children at liberty. Because most Korean people try to bear a son at all costs, the number of males is increasing while that of females is decreasing.
　　　 Secondly, this kind of thinking brings about social problems. I heard that because there are more boys than girls in elementary schools, some boys sit with girls, but the others must sit with boys. In the same way, when the boys grow up after a few years, they won't be able to get married. Also men have a sense of their own superiority toward women. This can destroy sound sex morality and the rights of women. Women should be equal to men in every point. Because people think sons are more important than daughters, women sometimes have been forced not by their will but by social custom. Sometimes girls must give up entering school in order for their brothers to enter school, for example.
　　　 Our social structure has changed from an extended family to a nuclear family as our society has changed from an agricultural to an industrial society. In an extended family system, the eldest son lived with his parents. But it is not important to bear a son anymore in present society. We must realize that it is not important whether we bear a son or a daughter, but what is important is to how to help our children to grow up.