Boys' standing falls as girls win favor

A growing number of parents are eschewing tradition and attempting to ensure that their second child is female. Li Na and Shuang Rui report for China Features at Xinhua News Agency.

Liu Min lay on the bed quietly, looking at her newborn second son. Despite her joy, she felt a sense of loss - because she had failed to have a daughter.

Four years ago, the 31-year-old Beijing resident gave birth to her first son. To care for him, Liu resigned her job in the legal department of an insurance company, sacrificing an annual salary of 200,000 yuan ($29,500).