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Selective abortion has been an issue in Armenia in recent years. As a result of efforts by the government and the private sector, it seemed that many families had given up on the idea of having only a male child, but after the war of 2020 the issue has become relevant again. There are still families in Armenia who choose selective abortion.
“My brother died in 2020. It was a war. I missed my brother, I was looking for his replacement everywhere…”, Gayane (the name is changed), 38, who is pregnant and expecting a boy, begins her story.
The woman, who has a 6-year-old daughter, lives in the Kotayk region, which is near the capital city of Yerevan. She always dreamed of a boy, but it became an obsession when her brother died, an obsession shared by her husband.
“I planned that, no matter what, I would have a boy who would bear my brother's name, who would help me and my parents overcome the grief of losing my brother. I got pregnant 2 years ago. It was planned. It turned out to be a girl. I took pills, had an abortion. It was a difficult phase. I don't want to talk about it now. I committed a sin, but I needed a boy…”, Gayane says.
The woman developed health problems after the intervention. Fortunately, the treatment was successful, the couple planned another pregnancy, and this time the echo showed a “boy”.
“I live for my unborn son. He helps me, gives me strength. You know, I'm not the only one, there are many women who dream and aspire to have a boy”, she says.
According to the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia, the highest index of gender disparity in Armenia was recorded in 2000, when the number of boys born per month far exceeded the number of girls. In ten years, however, the balance changed in favour of girls.
In 2021, the best balance was reached – 108 boys against 100 girls – but it went back to 112 against 100 in 2022. This is despite the fact that the standard ratio of newborns in the world is considered to be 104-106 boys/ 100 girls.
What caused the increase in the gender disparity index in 2022, experts find it difficult to say. However, there is a thesis that war is to blame.
“At this stage, it is still difficult to talk about the main reasons, but war has left its mark”, sociologist Sona Hovakimyan notes. According to Hovakimyan, selective abortion has always been a problem in Armenia, which is aggravated from time to time.
“Sex selection increases when a family is expecting a second child”, says Zaruhi Tonoyan, Coordinator of the UN Population Fund's Combating Gender Discrimination Program.
In 2022, the research “Prevalence and Causes of Gender-Biased Sex Selection in the Republic of Armenia” was carried out with the support of the European Union and the United Nations Population Fund. The study showed that the preference for boys in Armenia has increased:
“We should highlight that girls matter. Women should be valued in society, we need to talk a lot about this, so that we can prevent selective abortion. We are taking a step back. We had a positive index, which we need to achieve again”, Tonoyan notes.
The research showed that selective abortion is especially widespread in regions, particularly in rural areas. If respondents in Yerevan are neutral about gender preference, preferences are stronger in regions, especially for a male child. A similar study was conducted in Armenia in 2017 as well. It is clear that the problem has worsened again, especially in the regions.
“Prevalence and Causes of Gender-Biased Sex Selection in the Republic of Armenia” research
Looking at results by regions, we can see that boys are most preferred in the Gegharkunik region. 33% of the respondents stated that they prefer boys.
“The first child should be a boy”, says Lilit, 19, from the Gegharkunik region, who has just gotten married but is already planning a child. “We always say in our family that we should have a boy, we will name him after my father-in-law, that is not up for discussion”, Lilit says. When asked what she will do if the first child is a girl, she remains silent, then shortly answers: “As God wills”.
Lilit is still a student. She says that one of her colleagues got married earlier than her and is already a mother. “She gave birth to a girl. Poor woman. They tried to force her to have an abortion. The husband’s family wanted a boy, but her parents stood by her and the girl was born. However, her husband didn’t go to the hospital. She lived at her parents' for about three months. Then, thank God, her husband came to his senses, now they live together, they are a happy family. Well, when I think deeply, I realise that the important thing is to have a healthy child. May I be healthy, I will have many children, both girls and boys”.