By Maija Devine
After the Year of the Rat kept us in the grip of the maniacal COVID-19, what more can the Year of the Ox do to us? Will it bring more catastrophe by piling misfortunes on fetuses waiting to be born in South Korea, particularly girls?
Historically, Koreans' strong preference for baby boys, combined with persistent zodiacal preferences against certain animal sign years like the horse, had resulted in astounding numbers of female abortions since the 1970s.
Scholars have produced decades of extensive evidence of the impact of son preferences and zodiac astrology on decreasing birthrates and unfortunate demographic outcomes. Since the 1970s, when ultrasound and amniocentesis became available in Korea, China, Japan and other countries with similar beliefs, Korean parents have used certain strategies to maximize their chances of having sons and avoid birthing girls, especially in certain years. Their zodiacal preferences demonstrate their conviction that their daughters would develop personalities resembling the traits of their animal sign. Horses are strong-willed, independent-minded and overactive, all undesirable in daughters, future wives and mothers.
Abortion helped couples reach their goals. In horse years of 1978 (a most hated Year of the White Horse), 1990 and 2002, an estimated 9,200, 8,000, and 3,289 female fetuses were aborted respectively. Another method resorted to was intentionally misreporting girls' actual birthdates, registering their daughters born in March or later months as being born in January or February in the preceding Year of the Snake. In 1978 and 1990, a total of 9,011 girls were misreported. Couples engaged in such practices for fear of their daughters' future difficulty in finding a suitable marriage partner, even if the parents themselves did not believe in zodiac astrology. Another reason, also common in Japan, is to enroll children in school a year earlier so that, if they underperform in college entrance exams, they could try the next year.
Parents also practiced "birth timing" by using contraceptives or other methods. In 1974, about 46 percent of women used contraception. Subsequently, 54,300 female pregnancies in 1978 and 16,500 in 1990 were strategically timed to avoid the dreaded Year of the Horse.
Fortunately, Korea emerged as the first Asian country to reverse its dangerously skewed sex ratio. During the 1990s, when female fetus abortions were most widespread, the sex ratio at birth (SRB) reached 111 boys to 100 girls, much higher than 106, the world or biological average. Many sources now report the SRB in Korea for 2008-2019 recorded between 105 and 107. Since 105 is considered the norm needed for a gender-balanced population, South Koreans have to do more to eliminate the son preference/zodiacal preoccupation.
Scholars concur. Contrary to the notion that traditional values in Korea would be weakened gradually by modernization and anti-zodiacal activism, son preferences and the zodiacal mindset have survived rapid economic development and legal sanctions and will likely continue.
So, what will this mean for female fetuses in the new lunar year? Luckily, demographic records show ox years have been gentle on girls. Besides, 2021 isn't just any old ox. It's the Year of the Metal Ox. Metal being one of the five elements (along with fire, water, wood and earth), astrologers declare is "a good year for giving birth" because metal symbolizes "longevity, stability and self-control. . . . Newborns shall have plenty of great things in their lives." Congratulations, lucky boys AND girls!
The writer is a lecturer of the Continuum College, University of Washington and author of "The Voices of Heaven," and a poetry book "Long Walks on Short Days." She can be reached at maijadevine@gmail.com.
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Historically, Koreans' strong preference for baby boys, combined with persistent zodiacal preferences against certain animal sign years like the horse, had resulted in astounding numbers of female abortions since the 1970s.
Scholars have produced decades of extensive evidence of the impact of son preferences and zodiac astrology on decreasing birthrates and unfortunate demographic outcomes. Since the 1970s, when ultrasound and amniocentesis became available in Korea, China, Japan and other countries with similar beliefs, Korean parents have used certain strategies to maximize their chances of having sons and avoid birthing girls, especially in certain years. Their zodiacal preferences demonstrate their conviction that their daughters would develop personalities resembling the traits of their animal sign. Horses are strong-willed, independent-minded and overactive, all undesirable in daughters, future wives and mothers.
Abortion helped couples reach their goals. In horse years of 1978 (a most hated Year of the White Horse), 1990 and 2002, an estimated 9,200, 8,000, and 3,289 female fetuses were aborted respectively. Another method resorted to was intentionally misreporting girls' actual birthdates, registering their daughters born in March or later months as being born in January or February in the preceding Year of the Snake. In 1978 and 1990, a total of 9,011 girls were misreported. Couples engaged in such practices for fear of their daughters' future difficulty in finding a suitable marriage partner, even if the parents themselves did not believe in zodiac astrology. Another reason, also common in Japan, is to enroll children in school a year earlier so that, if they underperform in college entrance exams, they could try the next year.
Parents also practiced "birth timing" by using contraceptives or other methods. In 1974, about 46 percent of women used contraception. Subsequently, 54,300 female pregnancies in 1978 and 16,500 in 1990 were strategically timed to avoid the dreaded Year of the Horse.
Fortunately, Korea emerged as the first Asian country to reverse its dangerously skewed sex ratio. During the 1990s, when female fetus abortions were most widespread, the sex ratio at birth (SRB) reached 111 boys to 100 girls, much higher than 106, the world or biological average. Many sources now report the SRB in Korea for 2008-2019 recorded between 105 and 107. Since 105 is considered the norm needed for a gender-balanced population, South Koreans have to do more to eliminate the son preference/zodiacal preoccupation.
Scholars concur. Contrary to the notion that traditional values in Korea would be weakened gradually by modernization and anti-zodiacal activism, son preferences and the zodiacal mindset have survived rapid economic development and legal sanctions and will likely continue.
So, what will this mean for female fetuses in the new lunar year? Luckily, demographic records show ox years have been gentle on girls. Besides, 2021 isn't just any old ox. It's the Year of the Metal Ox. Metal being one of the five elements (along with fire, water, wood and earth), astrologers declare is "a good year for giving birth" because metal symbolizes "longevity, stability and self-control. . . . Newborns shall have plenty of great things in their lives." Congratulations, lucky boys AND girls!
The writer is a lecturer of the Continuum College, University of Washington and author of "The Voices of Heaven," and a poetry book "Long Walks on Short Days." She can be reached at maijadevine@gmail.com.
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