What they say

"I love my son, but I would also like to have a daughter. I believe daughters are more thoughtful and caring than sons. After marriage, the son may be too preoccupied with his own family to care for his parents or parents-in-law, but a daughter's love for her parents can grow stronger over time. Also, I don't want my son to be torn between his mother and his wife. Conflict between a wife and her mother-in-law is a common theme in modern Chinese soap operas. The shows are dramatic and full of cliches, but a generation gap between the two leading females of the family really does exist, and it's very hard to overcome."

Xiao Xiao, 33, homemaker who has a 2-year-old son

"My first-born is a girl, so my parents want our second child to be a boy. Having a boy definitely makes the family feel more complete, but in the long run, raising a girl is more economically viable, especially in big cities. In terms of education, raising a boy or girl is equally expensive. However, when the boy is ready to marry, he is expected to provide a house, car and betrothal presents, which are usually paid for by his parents. As a result, having a daughter means more economic freedom for her parents. A girl may spend her parents' money on luxury goods before she finds a job, but that is nothing compared with the insane property prices that are typically covered by her new husband's family."