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A growing number of parents are expressing a preference for daughters over sons, sparking conversations about changing family expectations, modern masculinity and the challenges of raising boys.
The shift is attracting attention on social media, where emotional gender reveal videos show some expectant mothers struggling after discovering they are having another boy. For many, the disappointment reflects a deeply imagined future of raising a daughter and building a special mother-daughter relationship.
However, experts say the conversation is more complicated than simply preferring girls over boys. Personal expectations, family experiences and changing social attitudes all play a role.
More mothers are opening up about wanting daughters
Los Angeles mother Stuart Brazell already had two sons when she persuaded her husband to try for a third child. She hoped the pregnancy would finally give her the daughter she had always imagined.
Brazell had pictured herself sharing special experiences with a little girl. However, learning she was expecting another boy left her devastated.
She later shared her emotional reaction on TikTok, joining other parents who have publicly discussed gender disappointment.
Although she now adores her three sons, Brazell has admitted that she still mourns the experience of never raising a daughter.
Her story highlights the emotional expectations some parents attach to having children of a particular sex.
Research shows more women prefer having girls
The growing conversation also reflects changing attitudes toward family planning.
For generations, having a son was often considered desirable because boys were expected to carry on family names and traditions. However, recent research suggests that this preference may be changing.
A 2018 Cornell University study indicated that the traditional preference for sons was declining.
Additionally, a 2025 Gallup International survey of nearly 45,000 people across 44 countries found that 19% of women preferred having daughters, compared with 12% who preferred sons. Approximately two-thirds of respondents had no preference.
The preference for girls has also appeared in adoption decisions. Research has found that prospective parents sometimes show a strong preference for adopting daughters, with the difference reflected in adoption costs.
Why some parents believe daughters keep families together
For some mothers, wanting a daughter is about more than childhood experiences. They imagine having a lifelong companion who shares family traditions, celebrations and important milestones.
Ruthy Jungreis, a mother of four daughters, understands this experience.
She recalled how relatives and friends once expressed sympathy whenever she welcomed another girl. Many assumed she would eventually want a son.
However, Jungreis has embraced raising four daughters. She believes their shared interests and close relationships have strengthened their family bond.
Her daughter, Gayil Jungreis, also expressed a preference for daughters. She believes girls often play an important role in maintaining family connections as relatives grow older and establish families of their own.
These experiences help explain why some parents associate having daughters with stronger family relationships.
Experts question the growing negativity toward boys
Despite the attention surrounding gender disappointment, experts caution against assuming that parents are universally rejecting boys.
Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, explained that disappointment within parenting communities often involves expecting another child of the same sex rather than specifically not wanting boys.
She also expressed concern about negative social media narratives surrounding masculinity.
According to Murkoff, every child is different, and personality and upbringing influence how children develop. She cautioned against assuming that girls are naturally better or easier to raise than boys.
Licensed marriage and family therapist Giulia P. Davis offered another explanation for gender disappointment.
She explained that the feeling is often connected to letting go of an imagined future rather than rejecting the baby.
This distinction is important because parents can experience disappointment during pregnancy while still developing a loving relationship with their children.
Raising boys is an opportunity to shape the next generation
For Nashville father Bret Green, the growing preference for daughters should not become a reason to view boys negatively.
The 39-year-old father, who is raising a son and daughter, believes parents have an opportunity to raise boys who challenge negative expectations about masculinity.
Rather than worrying about the kind of men their sons might become, he believes parents should focus on teaching them kindness, responsibility and respect.
Green sees raising his son as an opportunity to contribute positively to the next generation of men.
Brazell also recognizes the responsibility involved in raising her three boys. Despite the physical challenges of caring for energetic children, she describes her sons as loving.
Ultimately, the conversation surrounding the preference for girls raises important questions about parenting expectations and gender stereotypes.
While some parents may imagine a particular future with daughters, others find unexpected joy in raising sons. Experts emphasize that children should be valued for who they are rather than the expectations attached to their sex.
Source: New York Post
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