A young mother in eastern China has cut her son's penis because she wanted a girl, a media report said on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old woman, who hails from the Yancheng city in Jiangsu province, was sentenced to five years in prison for the crime, the Shanghai Daily reported on Tuesday.
Xiao Meng gave birth to her son Yaya last March. Her husband Zhan and mother-in-law recalled that after Yaya was born, Xiao often talked to herself: "I wish it could be a girl."
Zhan told the daily Jinling Evening News that his wife often slapped the baby and grabbed him by the neck.
He thought she was suffering from post-natal depression and did not worry too much.
The court heard that on Aug 15, 2011, Zhan's mother rushed into the room after she heard the baby's cries. She found Yaya's dismembered penis in a pool of blood.
Xiao cut off the penis with a pair of scissors.
After treatment, Yaya's life was out of danger and he could pee normally. However, doctors said Yaya would never regain productivity.
Zhan told the paper that Xiao was worried that a son would be a big burden because the parents are responsible to buy him a house and get him a wife.