This study explores the linkage of fertility desires, family size, maternal health, reproductive history and socioeconomic
changes in Pakistan with son preference among Pakistani women. We conducted 40 in-depth interviews among
young (18-35) and educated (completed at least secondary level education) housewives with poor reproductive history, living
in lower middle income households of two urban slums of Lahore city. Findings demonstrate that a weakening trend of son
preference is associated with an increased concern for quality lifestyle, higher cost of childbearing, smaller family size and
education of daughters. The willingness to have more siblings and growing age of living children is associated with
reproducing more children, even in the absence of a male child. The community level interventions ensuring the irrelevance of
roles and expectations associated with a son and shifting the trends towards the other gender may help reduce son preference
in Pakistan.