Seems that a centuries-old preference for male children is now being aided by technology. Now, instead of merely hoping for a boy-child, the wealthier members of Indian society are having sonograms to test for sex, then aborting the fetus should it prove to be female (as opposed to the old days, when you had to wait for the baby to be born, then kill it if it was a girl).
Normally, the boy to girl ratio of babies is around 1000 boys to 933 girls. But in India, surveys are showing, the ratio of boys to girls, assuming the parent has previously birthed a girl, is 1000 to 759. Following the birth of a male child, though, the ratio is roughly even (in other words, normal). Even worse is when the third child is preceded by two girls, where the number drops to 1000 : 719.
This is bad, obviously, and India has banned sex-selective abortions for over a decade, now. But like so many things, making something illegal doesnt make it stop. Officials have even taken to running sting operations to catch doctors who suggest the procedure to women who they find to be carrying a girl.
Here's my crazy take on the whole situation. While this is obviously pretty bad for girls now, I think, in the long run, it may work out that the practice will cause an end not only to the bad treatment of women in India, but perhaps even an end to the entire caste system.
Why? Because while the celebration of boy-children and the mourning of the arrival of a girl-child may be powerful social forces in India, I'm willing to bet that they are not as powerful as the urge for marriage and procreation. Even now, Indian men are experiencing a shortage of women to marry. How long can the practice of dowery demands continue in the face of a shortage? (remember the almighty Market, my friends). And if one cannot find a wife within one's own caste? Will the old taboos withstand, or will they be tossed aside in the interest of continuing one's genetic line, regardless.
Just a thought.
8 comments:
It probably won't happen. A similar practice happens in China and they simply get their women from neighboring countries where the women are falling-over-themselves-grateful for the opportunity.
But there's no caste system in China, which is where the problem will be in India. If one can only take a mate from one's own caste, and only 75% of the males have a female available, what do you do? Competition first (paying for a bride, rather than being paid to take her), and then going outside the caste if one loses that competition.
they will solve it by moving here.
Dave,
Interesting take on the whole "unintended consequences" gambit. I think it way to early to tell, because to tear down a system like India's will take an awfully long time and who knows what sort of social meddling the government will do in the meantime.
Ya got me puzzlin' though. I think maybe Rev is right. The Indians will outsource all their breeding here instead. Seems a fair trade to me.
Ha! "outsourcing" their breeding. I love it. Funny, whenever you see Indians in American or English films, they seem to be dominated by women. maybe that's where all the missing Indian girls have gone - West!
dave what is the name of that farting preacher, i am thinking of watching tv again, just to see him, he's as good as benny hinn.
That farting preacher is a man named Robert Tilton. He once had a huge church here in Big D, until an investigation, spearheaded by the Trinity Foundation brought him down.
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