In the past, men were known to be eager to have sons who would preserve the family name. For as long as the woman kept giving birth to girls, she had to brace herself for more pregnancies until she got a boy. That was because in the African tradition, it used to be important for one to have a boy child to carry on the legacy of the family. Infact, to this day in some cultures in Africa, when a daughter-in-law has a boy as her first child in marriage, the adults often say, "You have done well." In the African community, it was deemed a great achievement for a woman to bring forth a boy. In instances where all the children were girls, the mother would be put under pressure - covertly and/or overtly - by the extended family and the community at large to work towards getting a boy child. The question is: Is the masculine factor still considered a sense of strength and security in a family?
"Of course, a child is a child, but a boy for a first born is my preference," said Oarabile Rantshabeng (32) of Tlokweng whose wife is heavily pregnant with their first child. Interestingly, he has given the unborn baby a boy's name despite not knowing its gender.
