Socio-economic status and sex preference in northern Mindanao

The present study was expected to provide empirical evidence on the sex preference of Filipino parents given their socio-economic status and type of residence. Data from Tan's (1981) study of Northern Mindanao were utilized while a historical perspective provided explanation for the possible presence of preference. Utilizing multiple regression the results indicated that SES, contingent on residence, did not affect preference. However, residence did affect preference with rural residents slightly preferring males while urban and semi-urban preferred females. An attitude of non preference was evident in the findings and this was attributed primarily to the Malayan tradition of the Filipinos. The persistence of nonpreference was due mainly to the fundamental attributes of children: their economic productivity and support of parents in old age.