Apparently in vitro clinics in the US have started advertising something new: gender selection. Now, I don't know very much about the process behind it, but no matter how it's performed, I have definite issues with the concept.
First of all, this could create gender ratio inequalities like what we're seeing in India (see http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/gender/gender_india.html for some more information on this). Which obviously in turn causes all kinds of other issues.
But even more, unconditional love, acceptance,and affection are crucial in a child's development. Would it really be unconditional love if it's basically a mail-order baby? Having kids is not about satisfying parental desires; if you are fit to be a parent then you will care for any child you have regardless of gender or other physical aspects. And what about sexism? There is already a definite preference for boys requested through this gender selection.
At least one clinic is even offering selection of hair colour, eye colour, and even skin colour (Is this ringing the racism bell, anyone? The sexism bell should already be pounding loud).
Why are we accepting this? Check out this excerpt from http://www.gene-watch.org/genewatch/articles/17-1darnovsky.html :
"Recent trends in consumer culture may warm prospective parents to such offers. We have become increasingly accepting of — if not enthusiastic about — “enhancements” of appearance (think face-lifts, collagen and Botox injections, and surgery to reshape women’s feet for stiletto heels) and adjustments of behavior (anti-depressants, Viagra, and the like). These drugs and procedures were initially developed for therapeutic uses, but are now being marketed and normalized in disturbing ways."
We have been lulled into accepting this kind of thinking, placing conditional value on human beings. It's a scary place to be, ladies and gentlemen.
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