Humanists in Canada have long fought for the right for women to control their own fertility.
However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that East Asian immigrants in Canada are having fewer than average baby girls, suggesting that some parents may be aborting foetuses based on their gender. This has even prompted the Canadian Medical Association Journal to call for doctors to withhold the sex of a foetus until 30 weeks into a pregnancy – past the point that most physicians in Canada would perform an abortion.*
As Vancouver is home to one of the largest immigrant populations in Canada, this dilemma is especially relevant for our community. So rather than have me spout my opinions, I want you to comment here with your thoughts. Should we side with women and mothers, ensuring their right to know the sex of their foetus and their right to continue or terminate that pregnancy, or should we be trying to curb the inherit sexism of those who would abort only girls?
Obviously this issue isn’t so black and white, so I’m hoping for some though provoking answers. Let me know what you think: please email me.
*Note: While abortion is technically legal throughout an entire pregnancy, few doctors will perform medically-unnecessary abortions after the first trimester.