I thought this column in USA Today was interesting: it discusses China's "daughter dearth," brought on by their one-child rule. Families want sons, so they use all kinds of methods to make sure they get one, instead of a girl.

The writer touches on some of the potential future issues that a large-majority-male population could face. I'd hoped for more of that, particularly some discussion of what might happen 50-100 years down the road.

But I was destined for disappointment. The column is meant to be a rather sappy, nostalgic examination of the father-daughter relationship.

Regardless, I found this passage entertaining:

...there is an almost-universal recognition that fathers should probably err a little in one direction with boys and a little in the other direction with girls.

Indeed, a son who has not been adequately toughened by his father is often derisively called a 'mama's boy.' Yet a daughter who enjoys a special place of endearment in her father's heart is affectionately known as a 'daddy's girl.'