Status and one's placement within the criteria set up by a given society-specific social structure is often based on many different factors, some of which fall under the individual's power to control and others beyond it. Variables such as financial strength, religion, race, parental status contribute towards determining the expected role of the prospective baby, but none so universally and unequivocally as gender sex.

A babies gender, no matter the society, predisposes that child to a life of molding behavior to fit expected roles. Preferences or the capacity to exhibit certain prescribed physical abilities, an example shown by the attitude displayed towards women living in 19th century England by their male counterparts, is deeply entwined with gender sex. At that time it was felt that women possessed less physical fortitude as well as lesser mental prowess. These were automatic gender sex roles ascribed to females based not on actual abilities, but those expectations set up by this society.
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It used to be that knowledge of babies gender by prospective parents had to wait until the end of the birthing process allowed all to determine baby gender. Once gender sex revealed itself celebrations began with, in patriarchal societies, more vigor if gender sex was male rather than female. Most societies we know of are patriarchal, in other words the descent and succession of a family or group is traced through the male line. The roles and their importance ascribed to the different gender sex are still held in such high esteem by members of our present day society, that in order to determine baby gender much research has gone into perfecting tests that reveal babies gender. It's now possible to determine baby gender at five weeks rather than eighteen weeks affording the parents the possibility of finding out that they will be parents in one fell swoop.

The two words - gender and sex, if defined individually can refer to the same thing; the actual sex of an individual - in other words whether one is male, female or neutered - or in the case of the word gender referring to the sex of an individual or the expected societal role, a person of a given gender is expected to follow in order to live up to societal expectations. Used in tandem, gender sex encompasses the actual sex of an individual as well as the societal roles expected of an individual of the specific sex in question.

For those prospective parents unwilling to leave gender sex to chance, there is now technology that allows for baby gender choice. Begun as a mean of allowing parents to have children that wouldn't suffer from various genetic issues or pass them on to future progeny and/or those unable to conceive naturally, the process now allows for those simply looking for a male or female child to ensure that they will have the gender sex they want. Outlawed in many countries, viewed as the precursor to the concept of a 'designer baby', a concept many find abhorrent, the practice is perfectly legal and sought after in the United States. The option comes at a high price. Those seeking this type of gender sex insurance can expect to deal costs between $10,000.00 and $20,000.00.

Gender sex and the biases based on babies gender have been overwhelming influences on every aspect of human life since the beginning of time. Even those still at the dating phase of a relationship expect certain roles to be adhered to by the male and the female involved. While changes in mindset and behavior leaning towards a more liberal mindset do and have occurred over time and expectations have been amended there is still a tremendous emotional and mental weight placed on a new arrival once, through whatever means, it's possible to specifically determine baby gender.