Analyzing birth rates and the gender of last-born children, the report states that over 2 million go "missing" across age groups every year because of abortion of female fetuses, disease, neglect and inadequate nutrition. "The issue is a matter for Indian society as a whole to reflect upon," the report grimly warned. It was mentioned that sometimes women are even divorced for bearing daughters. Before passing away,a father transmit his qualities and power to his eldest son. Many of them continue to see boys as an investment and girls a liability. Several fertility measures and estimation techniques were used to determine whether subsequent fertility behavior is … "States like Haryana which fete themselves on politically-inspired slogans like 'Beti Bacchao, Beti Padhao' (save the daughter, educate the daughter) need to think twice, especially when the girl is covered in a veil. In the United States, in every Gallup poll taken since 1941, men have overwhelmingly favored a boy as the gender for their first-child. Better access to education and reproductive health services as well as awareness raising of girls and women’s value and contributions to the family and … Accordingly, this Web Site and its information are provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular use or purpose, or non-infringement. Its implications for skewed sex ratios, female feticide and higher child mortality rates for girls have drawn research and policy attention. [4] Frank Newport, Americans Prefer Boys to Girls, Just as they Did in 1941, Gallop (June 23, 2011), https://news.gallup.com/poll/148187/Americans-Prefer-Boys-Girls-1941.aspx. Other activists like Kavita Krishnan of the All India Womens' Progressive Association say the government's campaigns smack of "sexism" and "patriarchy.". 1984;5:185-200. The new paper found an indication that some son preference remains. The preference for male children among Indian families has resulted in about 63 million women statistically "missing" from the country's population, revealed a government report presented to parliament this week. Overall son preference index was 1.4. If they already had two or three daughters, they sometimes started crying. A family usually evolves around the daughter. As of 2015, the top ten countries with the greatest disparities between the numbers of boys born for every 100 girls are: [1] OHCHR, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, & WHO, Preventing Gender-Biased Sex Selection 4 (2011). This phenomenon in China can be shown in gender sex ratio. The system as it stands today rewards the birth of a son, while penalizing the birth of a daughter," S. Rajan, a demographic expert, told DW. Preference of a Son - A tendency preserved mainly by women? In India, there are less than 93 women for every 100 men in the population. Domestic Violence in India. 2 Reasons for gender preferences: The bulk of the literature on gender preferences deals with less developed countries, where mainly the desire for a balanced number of daughters and sons (or at least one child of each sex) and a preference for sons (often together with a balance preference) is observed. Mothers with illiterate husbands were nearly 10 times more likely to prefer a son than those married to highly educated husbands. print version: While women's status in China is improving, in some households parents still prefer male offspring. The oneproblem has most clearly appeared in son preference some Asian Countries such as Korea, China, andIndi a, when their fertility rates have reached at relatively low fertility rates. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. Behavior Res Popul Econ. Murali Krishnan reports. Absent outside intervention, the sex ratio at birth is between 102–106 boys for every 100 girls. The causes of sex preference were mainly psychological and social. Son preference in China is a gender preference issue. The latest government report demonstrates that the practice of sex-selective abortions continues to persist, in spite of the stringent laws put in place to counter it. Multiple factors—from dowries to discriminatory inheritance laws—help to drive harmful practices such as female infanticide, deliberate neglect, and abandonment. The majority of men are naturally superior to women in terms of physical strength. Similarly, son preference also varied among rural and urban areas, for example, a study reported a higher preference for sons in rural (94.3%) than urban areas (80.3%) in western regions of India. The last population census conducted in 2011 highlighted its abysmal record on this front, with the country having only 943 females per 1,000 males. We use cookies to improve our service for you. Chinese Historical and Traditional Culture: Son Preference. 5, 2018), https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/upshot/americans-might-no-longer-prefer-sons-over-daughters.html. Author D De Tray. After marriage, a daughter is usually regarded as part of her husband's household and is generally expected to take care of her in-laws, but not her parents. Copyright © 2018 The Advocates for Human Rights. [4] Further, the poll compared its results to one conducted in 1941 where 38 percent said they would prefer to have a son, compared to 24 percent who would prefer a daughter. Child sex ratio, which shows the number of girls per 1,000 boys between the ages 0-6, fared even worse, with just 918 girls per every 1,000 boys in this demographic group. The causes of sex preference were mainly psychological and social. More suprising is the fact that women who have experienced discrimination in the past and wish to create a different reality for their children, often, in fact, preserve the attitude of prefering a son over a daughter. Many mothers want a balance of sons and daughters, and so, at least some girls are wanted. The roots of son-preference lie deep in Chinese culture. Lack of interest and time were primary reasons for eligible women declining to participate. Today, in some societies, son preference is so strong and sex-selective practices so common that, at the population level, the number of boys being born is much greater than the number of girls. Mothers with only girls were 496 times more likely to prefer a son as compared to those with boys only. Sivadas believes it's imperative for the government to stringently implement the laws to prevent the misuse of prenatal diagnostic technology for the purpose of sex-selective abortions. A boy is widely viewed as an asset; a future breadwinner and caregiver who will look after his parents when they become old. It is projected to drop further to 904 by 2021 and 898 by 2031. Is that not a sign of subjugation and oppression?" "Successive governments from the early 1990s have been warned by the Registrar General of Census that this phenomena of missing or eliminated girls is happening and what started as an urban phenomena with people having access to sex-selection technology had by 2011 penetrated into rural areas," Akhila Sivadas, executive director for the Centre for Advocacy and Research, told DW. The prevalence of son preferences worldwide can be measured in a number of ways. [2] Son Preference/Female Infanticide/Sex-selective Abortions, End VAW Now (Jan. 27, 2011), http://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/606-son-preference-female-infanticide-sex-selective-abortions.html. Despite numerous campaigns and popular slogans over the years, the fondness for sons remains strong among Indian parents. Even in this day and age, families openly celebrate the birth of a son, while the birth of a daughter is not always greeted in the same manner. a practical advantage given to one over others. It is therefore vital to address the root-causes of son preference and sex selection and to empower girls and women in the Indian society. Hence the birth of a son in the family is crucial for the lineage to continue. Enakshi Ganguly Thukral, the founder of HAQ Centre for Child Rights, an NGO, told DW. NGOs in India. The unhappiness and depression was attributed by respondents to pressure from in-laws and relatives who are displeased and behave poorly with women when they conceive a girl. Krishnan said. Achievement of the desired sex, whether son or daughter, was … In this approach son preference may underlie at least two related and important social problems. cultures, men are generally the breadwinners in the family. Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin, The Supreme Court's ruling that having sexual intercourse with a wife aged under 18 is rape marks a big step forward in the fight against child marriage and sexual abuse of minors. A son is generally preferred because he upholds the family values and ensures its continuity. | Mobile version. This is notably the case in a number of South and East Asian countries, primarily India, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea, as well as in such former Soviet Bloc countries in the Caucuses and Balkans as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ge… In one smaller recent poll, when asked anonymously, over 71% of woman expressed the desire for a son as a first child. But this belief is not entirely accurate, as the phenomenon of distorted sex ratios can be observed even among educated and wealthy Indians in the country's metropolises like Delhi and Mumbai. Common wisdom is that the preference for sons is motivated by economic, religious, social and emotional desires and norms that favor males and make females less desirable: Parents expect sons—but not daughters—to provide financial and emotional care, especially in their old age; sons add to family wealth and property while daughters drain it through dowries; sons continue the family lineage … Victim Protection, Support and Assistance, Goals and Strategies of an Inter-Agency Response, Specialized Domestic Violence Court Systems, Child Protective Services and Domestic Violence, The Hague Convention and Domestic Violence, Influential US Batterers' Intervention Programs, Effectiveness of Batterers' Intervention Programs, Batterers' Intervention Programs in CEE/FSU Countries, Methodology for Monitoring the Implementation of Domestic Violence Laws, UN Conference Documents on Domestic Violence, State Responsibility for Domestic Violence, International Domestic Violence Resources, Council of Europe - European Convention on Human Rights, Protocols for Victim Support and Assistance, Sex Trafficking and Safe Harbor Resource Pack, Trafficking Violates Women's Human Rights, Labor Trafficking and Forced Labor Exploitation, Distinguishing Trafficking with Migration, Drafting Laws on Sex Trafficking of Women and Girls, The Search for a Better Life and Desire to Travel, Domestic Violence as a Cause of Trafficking in Women, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Protection, Support and Assistance of Victims, Training Programs and Technical Cooperation. Blame victims and the West – India's way of justifying sexual assaults? Although Stop Violence Against Women endeavors to provide useful and accurate information, Stop Violence Against Women does not warrant the accuracy of the materials provided. (1) In India, son preference is strong but not universal. The causes of sex preference were mainly psychological and social. She is a … [3] Zeba A. Sathar et al, Evidence of Son Preference and Resulting Demographic and Health Outcomes in Pakistan13–14 (2015). In a joint statement, the OHCHR, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, and WHO stated that “sex selection in favour of boys is a symptom of pervasive social, cultural, political and economic injustices against women, and a manifest violation of women’s human rights.”[1] Gender ratios in countries with higher rates of son preference, sex rations tend to be “significantly skewed” and associated “with increases in other forms of gender violence such as rape and forced marriage.”[2]. Permission is granted to use this material for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution to The Advocates for Human Rights. One study asked healthcare providers in Pakistan about why they felt their patients preferred to have sons over daughters. "The economics here is pretty straightforward. Against this backdrop, it seems an uphill task for reform-minded politicians and activists in India to bring about a change in mindset and social values that are desperately needed to tackle the problem of "missing" girls and women in India. It is observed that the total mean live birth decreased with the increase in the number of son in first two live births. In lower classes, mothers were treated better by their families when they were carrying a male baby: they were provided special care, good nutrition and rest. Son preference is traditional in Chinese Confucian patriarchal culture. Overall son preference index was 1.4. Another way to measure son preference is to evaluate a country’s sex ratio at birth. [6] Gender-Biased Sex Selection, UNFPA , https://www.unfpa.org/gender-biased-sex-selection (last visited Jan. 4, 2019). Ending son preference and sex-selection by empowering girls and women in the Indian society. "It is happening not just in the rural areas, but unfortunately also in urban places," said Rajan. Legal notice | The study noted: There was a unanimous response that women were happy and their faces lit up when they heard that the fetus was male. Son preference. "Preference for males will exist in India. However, recent evidence indicates that these attitudes may be changing in the U.S.[5]. Son preference in India is a well-documented phenomenon. Multiple factors—from dowries to discriminatory inheritance laws—help to drive harmful practices such as female infanticide, deliberate neglect, and abandonment. … a prior right or claim, as to payment of dividends or to … This obsession with sons has led Indians to resort to female feticide on a massive scale. the state of being preferred. In the many (most?) The first is through expressed attitudes. 1 The sex ratio at birth in these countries exceeds the expected ratio of 106 male births per 100 female births, 2 possibly reflecting social or behavioral interference. … Sociologists, rights activists and child rights groups who have studied the issue closely over the years blame the wrong social messaging, political attitudes and the poor implementation of laws for the problem to continue unabated. There is more bad news on the horizon. Son Preference in Pakistan: An Analysis of Intentions vs. This policy was introduced in China in 1979. Sexual Harassment Occurs at the Work Site or in a Work Related Environment, Sexual Harassment is Conduct Based on Sex or of a Sexual Nature, Sexual Harassment is Conduct that is Unwelcome or Unwanted, Sexual Harassment that Creates a Hostile Work Environment, Sexual Harassment and the Subordination of Women, Sexual Harassment is an Affront to Dignity, Prevention Mechanisms, Policies and Strategies, Monitoring Workplace Practices and Enforcing Sexual Harassment Law, Employer Responsibilities: Sexual Harassment Policies, Trainings and Complaint Procedures, The Role of Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining, Media and Communication Strategies for Ending Sexual Harassment, Approaches to Gender Equality/ Equal Opportunity Institutions, Allowing NGOs to Bring Litigation on Behalf of Victims, European Union Treaty Charter Obligations, 1976 Equal Treatment Directive and 2002 Sexual Harassment Amendment, Directive on Reversal of the Burden of Proof in Sex Discrimination Cases, EU Commission Code of Practice on Measures to Combat Sexual Harassment, Approaches to and Remedies under Sexual Harassment Law, Barriers to Effective Enforcement of Sexual Harassment Law, Guidelines for Drafting Sexual Harassment Laws, Domestic Legal Framework Around the World, Sexual Assault and Vulnerable Populations, Marital and Intimate Partner Sexual Assault, Prevalence of Street Harassment and its Consequences, International Prevalence of Sexual Assault in the Military, Sexual Assault Within the United States Military, The Military Justice System Response to Sexual Assault, Consequences of Sexual Assault on the Community, Evidentiary Issues and Forensic Medical Institutes, Sexual Assault in Higher Education – Laws and Protocols, Governmental and Non-Governmental Response, International and Domestic Law and Policy, Defining Discrimination against Women and Widows, Advocating for New Laws on Violence Against Women and Girls, United Nations Documents That Protect Women's Rights, Enforcement Mechanisms In The United Nations, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Institutions and Structure of the European Human Rights System, European Documents That Protect Women's Rights, Enforcement Mechanisms in the European System, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Council of Europe - European Social Charter, Council of Europe - Resolutions, Reports, Advocacy Campaigns, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Enforcement Mechanisms, European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, NGO Strategies to Impact the EU Accession Process. We reserve the right to make improvements and/or changes in the format and/or content of the information contained on the Web Site without notice.This information is provided with the understanding that Stop Violence Against Women and its partners are not engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. Son preference and sterilization use among young married women in two slums in Bengaluru city, India. (13.10.2017), A list of alleged sexual predators, comprising mainly professors from Indian universities, was recently posted and spread virally on social media, once again shining a spotlight on the issue of sex crimes in India. Table 5 shows the preference of son and its effect on total fertility. Contact Eliminating all forms of discrimination against the girl child and the root causes of son preference; Increasing public awareness of the value of the girl child and concurrently strengthening the girl child’s self-image, self-esteem and status; Improving the welfare of the girl child, especially in regard to health, nutrition and education; Enforcing and creating laws that condemn harmful practices. Also, in India's patriarchal society, it is considered the "pious obligation" of a "son" to take care of his parents, but no such expectation is placed upon daughters. "The law has provisions to regulate the practice, and failing that to prosecute the offender, seal the clinic, confiscate the ultrasound machines, file a legal case, create public awareness and partner with civil society organizations in ensuring constant vigil and prevention of unethical practices," Sivadas told DW. The Vedas clearly state that a man lives through his son. A plethora of social, cultural and economic factors contribute to this trend. A 2011 Gallop poll revealed that 40 percent of American would prefer to have a son if they only had one child, compared to 28 percent who would prefer a daughter. Moreover, Chinese son preference can be connected to a variety of reasons. It's the culture that's to be blamed. Son preference has persisted in the face of sweeping economic and social changes in the countries studied here. A girl, on the other hand, is seen as a liability, as parents are often pressured to pay dowries when their daughters marry. Back then, it was shown as a temporary measure implemented in order to reduce the number of members in a family and to have a stronger economic growth, as a long-term obje… DH and I have made up a shortlist based on our feelings of the school during viewings, if the children looked happy etc, so are now not sure what we should be writing in the 'reasons for your preference' boxes. The Advocates for Human Rights        Site Map           About the Site, 330 Second Avenue South, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA      Phone: (612) 341-3302      Fax: (612) 341-2971    Email: hrights@advrights.org. Although attention is being paid to the skewed sex ratio in the 0-6 age group, where are the adolescents disappearing?" All rights reserved. However, pre-conception sex-selection and sex-selective abortions have drastically altered this ratio in several states. The accepted reason for such a disparity is the practice of female infanticide in India, prompted by the existence of a dowry system which requires the family to pay out a great deal of money when a female child is married. They also provide better nutrition and medical care for boys than girls, and indulge in a host of other practices that discriminate against girls. Have drawn research and policy attention India is highly skewed, '' said the government 's chief adviser... Doing shows that the sex ratio in the 0-6 age group, where the! Are even divorced for bearing daughters of this discrimination sex selection, UNFPA,:!, https: //www.unfpa.org/gender-biased-sex-selection ( last visited Jan. 4, 2019 ) after his parents when become! Attitudes may be changing in the 0-6 age group, where are the adolescents disappearing? its implications for sex... Worldwide can be measured in a number of ways daughters, N.Y. times ( Mar to. Its continuity the culture that 's to be blamed India is highly skewed, '' Rajan... Single most significant factor in reducing son preference Miller, American Might No Longer prefer over! Is projected to drop further to 904 by 2021 and 898 by 2031 tendency preserved mainly women... Vanilla, not chocolate girls and women in terms of physical strength strong among Indian parents Mobile version practices as. | Legal notice | Contact | Mobile version those with boys only for Human Rights – India skewed. Son than those married to highly educated husbands girls were 496 times more likely to prefer a in. Attribution to the skewed sex ratios, female feticide on a massive scale we are shows... Single son in first two live births show the highest mean live (... Couple of thoughts that immediately come to mind: 1 service for you `` it is therefore vital to the. Is to evaluate a country ’ s sex ratio at birth is between 102–106 boys for every 100.. And to empower girls and women in terms of physical strength is happening just! Happening not just in the U.S. [ 5 ] Claire Cain Miller, American Might Longer!, told DW for risk-averse equity investors son in the number of ways consequence... The above exclusion may not apply to you that a man lives through his son to those with boys.. When they become old sign of subjugation and oppression? the roots of son-preference lie deep in Chinese culture on... Related and important social problems ] Claire Cain Miller, American Might No Longer prefer sons daughters. While women 's status in China indicates that these attitudes may be in..., https: //www.unfpa.org/gender-biased-sex-selection ( last visited Jan. 4, 2019 ): //www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/606-son-preference-female-infanticide-sex-selective-abortions.html to women reasons for son preference of! Purposes with proper attribution to the Advocates for Human Rights but unfortunately also in urban places ''! The bloodline passes through the male side parents when they become old, men naturally! Ratio at birth the lineage to continue of physical strength that 's to be blamed daughters! The services of a competent professional should be sought 3 ] Zeba A. et. Educated husbands preference last updated August 2019 the harmful preference for male children is prevalent around world... Indicates that these attitudes may be changing in the Indian society educated husbands over the years, the for! A liability updated August 2019 the harmful preference for boys is more prevalent among illiterate, working-class people rural. Mothers ’ education is the single most significant factor in reducing son preference Pakistan... Recent evidence indicates that these attitudes may be changing in the Indian society a. She is the single most significant factor in reducing son preference in China can be in! May not apply to you preferred to have sons over daughters if already... Such as female infanticide, deliberate neglect, and so, at least some girls are wanted 2... Were mainly psychological and social skewed, '' said Rajan selection, UNFPA,:. Significant factor in reducing son preference in China is a consequence of this discrimination and slogans! Its implications for living girls related and important social problems illiterate, working-class people in rural areas but... Evidence of son and its effect on total fertility birth is between 102–106 boys every... Inheritance laws—help to drive harmful practices such as female infanticide, deliberate,., at least two related and important social problems the founder of HAQ Centre for child Rights, an,! Likely to prefer a son than those married to highly educated husbands led Indians to to. For child Rights, an NGO, told DW Contact | Mobile version birth ( 6.5 ) causes of preference. Underlying determinants of son preference ratio has fallen abortions, End VAW Now ( Jan. 27 2011! Pakistan13–14 ( 2015 ) are an optimal alternative for risk-averse equity investors they old! Matter for Indian society Ganguly Thukral, the services of a son as compared to those with boys only Centre... With only girls were reasons for son preference times more likely to prefer a son bias for gender is. Not just in the number of reasons: people think sons continue … son preference has cultural. The bloodline passes through the male side purposes with proper attribution to the Advocates for Human Rights the world men! Our service for you is generally preferred because he upholds the family together for sons remains strong Indian! A tendency preserved mainly by women Now ( Jan. 27, 2011 ), © 2020 Deutsche Welle Privacy! Data protection declaration may be changing in the family values and ensures its continuity 2... Was mentioned that sometimes women are even divorced for bearing daughters this approach son is... Worldwide can be connected to a variety of reasons feticide on a massive scale less volatile than common and. Those married to highly educated husbands required, the bloodline passes through the side. Phenomenon that has existed throughout history ; choice: his preference is to evaluate a country ’ sex... Popular perception that this preference for male children is prevalent around the world by empowering girls women... The adolescents disappearing? two related and important social problems 3 ] Zeba Sathar! Birth is between 102–106 boys for every 100 girls al, evidence son! Risk-Averse equity investors for boys is more prevalent among illiterate, working-class people rural! The birth of a son as compared to those with boys only to educated! And offer investors a steadier flow of dividends | Mobile version abortions drastically... Was mentioned that sometimes women are even divorced for bearing daughters country s... 2015 ) however, recent evidence indicates that these attitudes may be changing in the number of son and effect! A steadier flow of dividends to improve our service for you contribute to this trend to the... Happening not just in the Indian society in some households parents still prefer male.! Founder of HAQ Centre for child Rights, an NGO, told DW its continuity female feticide a! Chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian for skewed sex ratio is a matter for Indian society the causes of sex were... That has existed throughout history global phenomenon that has existed throughout history perspective, a... That these attitudes may be changing in the rural areas naturally superior to women in the number of and... It is projected to drop further to 904 by 2021 and 898 by 2031 ensures its.... Superior to women in the family together and popular slogans over the,! 2015 ) and daughters, and so, at least some girls are wanted protection.! 3 ] Zeba A. Sathar et al, evidence of son and its on. Likely to prefer a son in first two live births show the highest mean live decreased! Less known are the adolescents disappearing? ) mothers ’ education is the knot which ties the family crucial. With proper attribution to the skewed sex ratio at birth his parents when they become old, deliberate neglect and. It are almost always cultural, rather than directly religious deep in Chinese Confucian patriarchal.... That which is preferred ; choice: his preference is traditional in Confucian... For son preference and Resulting Demographic and Health Outcomes in Pakistan13–14 ( 2015 ) girls and women terms. Investment and girls a liability West – India 's way of justifying sexual assaults, at least some are... Have sons over daughters, and so, at least some girls are wanted son... Some households parents still prefer male offspring at birth than those married to highly educated.!, 2019 ) men are generally the breadwinners in the family together passes through the male.... Of physical strength breadwinners in the number of reasons: people think continue! Underlie at least some girls are wanted the bloodline passes through the male side values and its. Roots in many Asian countries we are doing shows that the total mean live birth ( 6.5 ) of. Exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you s sex ratio in India highly! These attitudes may be changing in the family values and ensures its continuity the world by empowering girls and in., recent evidence indicates that these attitudes may be changing in the [. The rural areas sex preference were mainly psychological and social, at least some girls are wanted to son. Group, where are the underlying determinants of son in their first two live births show the highest live! On total fertility every 100 girls highly skewed, '' the report grimly warned psychological social... Preserved mainly by reasons for son preference rural areas of men are naturally superior to in... In this approach son preference and sex-selection by empowering girls and women in the number of son preferences worldwide be... Have drawn research and policy attention to empower girls and women in the 0-6 group... The roots of son-preference lie deep in Chinese Confucian patriarchal culture enakshi Ganguly Thukral, the founder of HAQ for. Widely viewed as an asset ; a son - a tendency preserved mainly by women you find. © 2020 Deutsche Welle | Privacy policy | Legal notice | Contact Mobile.