This report investigates the links between son preference and differen
tial treatment of children by analyzing data from the Demographic and
Health Surveys of Morocco and Tunisia, two countries that are thought
to vary considerably regarding indicators of gender. The analyses find
no significant differences in either country in the duration and inte
nsity of breastfeeding and small differences in favor of boys in Tunis
ia regarding immunization and the treatment of diarrhea. These finding
s, which are, to some degree, unexpected, are discussed in light of ot
her research relevant to son preference in the two countries.