In certain traditional Asian cultures, special importance was placed on male children. If a woman’s firstborn child was a girl, she would often feel deeply ashamed. The woman would often be belittled and looked down upon, and sometimes her in-laws might not even accept her until she gave a son to her husband’s family. When a village heard that a household was about to give birth, often a group of musicians from the village would come and wait outside their door. Upon seeing expressions of joy from the family, they would begin their celebration. On the other hand, if they saw the family come out with a look of sadness, they would quietly leave, understanding that a girl had been born. If the musicians were to play their celebratory music in such a situation, it would be a source of humiliation and great embarrassment for the family, particularly for the male head of the household. People only cared about whether the newborn was a boy or a girl; they didn’t pay any attention to the mother at all.
A family could have as many sons as they wanted, the more sons, the more highly the household was viewed by the community; gaining a son was like gaining more power and a higher position in society for the entire family line or clan. If a man’s wife only gave birth to daughters, he might seek another wife in his pursuit of having sons to carry on the family line and the name of the clan. If a couple was childless, it was seen as “weakening” the image of God on Earth, as it was believed that they would not be able to enter heaven.
This belief stands in direct opposition to the teachings of the Bible. God often shows special care and listens to women who are barren or childless. Scripture also declares, “Children are a heritage from the LORD” (Psalm 127:3), for every child, whether boy or girl, is “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God (Psalm 139:14).
