Time to end daughter aversion in India

In their Article, Nandita Saikia and colleagues1Saikia N Meh C Ram U et al.Trends in missing females at birth India from 1981 to 2016: analyses of 2·1 million histories nationally representative surveys.Lancet Glob Health. 2021; (published online April 8.)https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00094-2Summary Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar investigated trends girls since the 1980s. When compared with natural range for sex ratio (950–975 per 1000 boys), they estimated that had a total between 13·5 22·1 female births 1987 2016. This reflected deficit all orders, almost three-fifths concentrated among second-order third-order following an earlier daughter or daughters. Furthermore, found conditional ratios families least one have become more male-biased states country. The number is contested;2Bhat M Sex India.Lancet. 2006; 367: 1725-1726Summary (9) however, correct numbers even half as large these estimates are unconscionably high, authors be commended highlighting this problem. Nonetheless, data not surprise. Excess mortality neglect children been documented late 1800s,3Miller BD endangered sex: rural north India. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY1981Google particularly northern Indian states, which colleagues some lowest male birth. Studies 1980s observed older sisters increased risk adverse health survival outcomes.4Das Gupta Selective discrimination against Punjab, India.Popul Dev Rev. 1987; 13: 77Crossref Scholar, 5Pande RP gender differences childhood nutrition immunization India: role siblings.Demography. 2003; 40: 395-418Crossref Sex-selective abortion latest manifestation long history aversion, also spans infanticide, excess child mortality, and—for those who born survive childhood—discrimination relation health, nutrition, schooling, most life opportunities. As knowledgeable scholars readers aware, entrenched aversion itself characteristic so-called classic patriarchy exists much and, indeed, across south Asia.6Kandiyoti D Bargaining patriarchy.Gend Soc. 1998; 2: 274-290Crossref (1600) It incentivises devaluation women girls, limits acceptable roles beyond marriage motherhood, encourages control by households wider kin caste networks. Consequences visible increasing male-bias ratios, decreasing participation labour market, wage gap, pervasive violence country, indicated Global Gender Gap Report 2021. dropped 28 points its ranking 2021 2020 Index, now 140th 156 countries globally, occupies position 155th on Health Survival Index (a subindex Index), largely due sex-selective abortion. Daughter (and, fact, inequality social indicators) continues major issue modernises, should cause serious alarm. colleagues' findings highlight limitations Government's policy efforts address problem focused cash transfers (CCT) incentivise Several national state-level CCTs implemented 1990s, but reviews programmes indicate limited success diminishing bringing towards biologically normal state.7Krishnan A Amarchand R Byass P Pandav Ng “No says ‘No’ money”—a mixed methods approach evaluating transfer schemes improve girl children's status Haryana, India.Int J Equity 2014; 11Crossref (16) 8Sekher TV Conditional welfare child.in: Kumar AKS Rustagi Subrahmanian India's children. Oxford Oxford2015: 307-328Crossref Therefore, authors' main recommendation unfortunate—namely, identify daughters being high “design incentive programmes” targeted group.1Saikia overlooks fact core goes economics. it puts onus action themselves rather than system deeply systematically undervalues girls. fertility decrease, masculine likely persist possibly worsen parents balance desire small family unrelenting son preference, dynamic was noted early 1990s.9Das Bhat PNM Fertility decline bias India.Population Studies. 1997; 51: 307-315Crossref (240) situation, results laws such 1994 Pre-Conception Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act reversing trend, send key message policymakers country: time take extremely challenging essential task influencing changing, scale, gender-unequal norms beliefs patriarchal them. example struggle genital cutting several sub-Saharan Africa10Wakabi W Africa battles make mutilation history.Lancet. 2007; 369: 1069-1070Summary (23) shows when political will joins cultural other influential leaders, civil society, women, men, boys, communities movement reform, possible accelerate positive change culturally traditionally gender-discriminatory practices. I am independent consultant currently working World Bank, report membership Institutional Review Board International Center Research Women (Washington, DC), views expressed Comment my own. Trends surveysIn contrast substantial improvements India, births, driven selective fetuses, increase states. Inclusion question composition forthcoming census would provide local information each village urban area Full-Text Open Access