by
S. Sudha Ph.D.
and
S. Irudaya Rajan Ph.D.
Abstract
Does bias against girl children persist during development and fertility decline in India? Has prenatal sex selection spread in India as elsewhere in Asia? Is child mortality risk higher for girls than boys in India? We examine these questions with from various sources, including 1981 and 1991 Censuses of India, academic studies, and NGO and newspaper reports.
In 1981, there was little evidence that sex-selective abortion was practiced in India. In contrast, in 1991, urban and rural North / Northwest states, and urban parts of some Central and Western states, strongly showed indications of substantial prenatal sex selection.
Despite overall mortality decline, child mortality continued to be greater among girls than boys, during 1981 - 1991. The South, which had more egalitarian rates in 1981, shows higher death rates among females in 1991 in some areas. Female child mortality disadvantage is due to selective neglect and female infanticide.
In India, preference for sons is undiminished by socio-economic development, which interacts with cultural sources of male bias. Prenatal sex selection coexists in some areas with excess female child mortality and female infanticide, creating a 'double jeopardy' for girl children. Areas of India that used to be more egalitarian, like the South, now show male bias. Legislation curbing prenatal sex selection has had little impact. Policy measures addressing societal female devaluation are very few and not effectively administered. Female demographic disadvantage thus may not lessen in the near future.
contact information for the author: sudha@email.unc.edu