The status of women in most 'third world' and developing countries remains a cause for concern. Why do we have such a preference for a male child? What is it that a male child provides parents with, that a female child cannot?
Many parents have a mistaken belief that the male child will be a support for parents in the old age. The government has tried to counter this mindset by providing more means of social security to the elderly, but such schemes only target the educated urban population, not the rural villager. Thus, parents still look upon their children as a main source of support in their old age. They fail to realise that daughters, if well brought up and educated, can also be a great support to their parents - not just financially, but emotionally as well. When parents fall ill, who is more likely to look after them? A daughter or a son? Who can parents expect more love and companionship from? A son, a daughter-in-law or a daughter? When a mother wants to go shopping, buy a sari, a salwar kameez or a jewellery item, who does she go with, her son or her daughter?
It is believed that a daughter is only yours till the day she gets married, because she leaves the home and goes away. The son, however, lives with the parents for his entire life, providing them with companionship and support in their old age. The fact is that the reverse is true: a son is a son till he gets a wife, a daughter is a daughter till the end of your life.
The bias against daughters arises largely because of economic reasons. Sons are viewed as "social security" in areas where resources are scarce, avenues for savings limited, and public support for the elderly non-existent. Daughters, on the other hand, require large dowry payments at the time of marriage. In fact, one of the direct causes of the preference for the birth of a male child and the increasing cases of female infanticide is the dowry system. It is imperative that we abolish this evil which can only be achieved through education.
The preference of a girl child is mostly seen in India and China, and in these countries female infanticide is practiced on a large scale. Female infanticide is prevalent amongst the uneducated rural population of India, who live in extreme poverty, and this brutal practice reflects the low status accorded to women - especially in those countries with dominant 'patriarchal' societies. However, the abortion of a female foetus is a common practice in upper middle-class and wealthy urban Indian families as well. It is shameful to know that no other country in the world prevents a doctor from disclosing the sex of an unborn foetus, except India. Why? Because once parents get to know that they are carrying a girl child, many opt for an abortion. Even more deep-rooted is the perception that the woman is inferior to the man. This is a perception which runs through the mind of every Indian - educated or not and it is visible in every aspects of our culture. When the well-meaning aunt of a groom laughs and jokingly says "Aakhir hum ladke waale hai!" (After all, we're from the boy's side), or when the proud grandmother gifts her daughter-in-law diamond solitaire earrings on the birth of her grandson and a simple gold pendant on the birth of a granddaughter.
The next time you as a daughter expect your parents to bow down to your husband's wishes, or as a husband, if you expect timely 'gifts' from your in-laws, remember that you are only contributing to further strengthen the roots of this accursed evil.
Name:
leena,
Country: usa
sad part is that women themselves do not realise the disrespect shown to them and their family(parents) and are content in having 'sons' to perpetuate the same to their daughter-in-laws. none other than men get benefitted in this whole affair as a husband , son , fil. only education of girls and improved self-esteem can help in fighting this social evil.
Name:
preeti bhambry,
Country: india
it is shocking to know that in many places of our country girl child is killed even before she is born.infantile foeticide is our country'sreality. but why a girl is consider to be a burden when they too can get employed and can easily become a bread earner and be easily an earning member!
Name:
noureen,
Country: usa
my aunt once said "people prefer boys because if they fall sick suddenly in the middle of the night, only their son can run & get the doctor but not their daughter.our society is not that safe to let your daughter go out in the middle of night...even to get a doctor when you are dying" that is how people support their thoughts there.daughter can be helpful in household things- sons can not.but once bahu comes you get your help.in india a boy can do whatever he likes.but a girl is restricted from everything her whole life.
Name:
Prakash,
Country: india
most parents have a "mistaken" belief that their sons will be social security for them?? how is this belief "mistaken"??? why do the builders of this website have to publish all these statements on this website that are disturbing and offensive for men????
Name:
Pradeep Sharma,
Country: india
all the women's issues articles on this site are full of mean statements towards men. i could'nt stand all the statements that were made against males on this site!!
Name:
Bias-AGAINST-Males,
Country: usa
this entire site is filled with demeaning statements and stereotypes, not of girls or women, but of boys and men. it is obvious the site is produced by females with a resentment of males. the obvious and subtle putdowns are disturbing. what kind of physical or emotional abuse are sons, brothers, nephews, husbands and fathers of this site's builders subject to? why are you incapable of presenting information in a nuetral form-- female sexism is alive, strong, and real. both genders should be treated equally and with equal respect and awe .. you don't create equality for females by tearing down males. it should be obvious that this is what females have been subject to -- so don't use what you despise.
Name:
chickki,
Country: india
well done!! way to go!!.hip hip hurray for girls
Name:
rahul,
Country: india
this article is too good .. makes practical reading ...
Name:
Sapna J. Bhatoye,
Country: india
we need to focus more on women health during pregnancy, treatment given by in-laws etc. women need to be made educated about their thoughts towards male and female as even they are womens. the article is very good and very motivating
Name:
padram,
Country: india
girls are treasure to ones family especially to a mother. education to girls will lift the family. girls are gems that is why both start with letter g. girls give moral strength to the family.
Name:
chandan roy(iitkgp),
Country: india
women r really more important then men.because men only help in reproduction
society and civilisation are formed and sustained by women .
restrict but let them live
Name:
chandan roy(iitkgp),
Country: india
a son is a son till he gets a wife, a daughter is a daughter till the end of your life.
(correct)
the dowry system- it is imperative that we abolish this evil .(correct)
female infanticide
it is shameful.
why the boys r angry??
the article says nothing wrong.
Name:
Lesley,
Country: other
the other referring to thailand via the uk. remember, the one who rocks the cradle rules the world. and. educate a woman, educate a nation. both self explanatory. i don't claim to understand the ideas and belief systems in india and china but would say that if anyone harmed a hair on our daughter's head, my husband would kill them. it doesn't have to be the way it is. education is the key.
Name:
Pradeep,
Country: india
the best way to ensure female supremacy over males-subject your little sons and little boys in general to the male-hating feminist bullshit out there and have them grow into it! this way, they will not only respect women, but will also disrespect their own gender, will you be happy then????????????? ?????????
Name:
Anonymous,
Country: india
very good article for lowering and discouraging boys' and mens' self esteems, keep it up!
Name:
Sahiba,
Country: india
well done.keep it up.
Name:
rati,
Country: india
the belief is mistaken because many sons do look after their parents, but many do not. come on. u cannot dispute this. it is great when it happens, but it cannot and should not be expected bec then parents are broken hearted when it doesnt happen.
Name:
xxx,
Country: india
indian society was is and will always be biased towards male. and one can easily understand that after reading some comments here. the author has written nothing demeaning about menfolks. all she/he wanted was to encourage parents having positive attitude towards their girl child. instead of writing foul about this topic one can help in bringing healthier attitude towards women/girls in our society by discouraging pratices like dowry, giving daughters equal opportunity for education and equal rights to their properties and not give lame excuses like 'women can't go out in the middle of night'.
Name:
Priyanka bhambry,
Country: india
please understand a simple fact...it was god who created girls and boys and he never laid down the rules that girls cannot live their dreams and that boys can rule girls.let girls also be smiling and happy what harm does it cause a man if he sees his lady content.
Name:
germain,
Country: other
the education of the girl child is a necessary and should be encouraged to help in the eradication of gendeer disparity and ensure equal access to quality education. this will help cut down the number of violence on women as they too will know their rights and fight for it
Name:
Soneesh Rai,
Country: india
i am also a proud mother of a 2yr old daughter. my husband and i had decieded before the birth of our daughter only that we will have one child. now it is daughter and we are very happy to have such a cute daughter.............
idea of having second kid just because you have a daugter is a stupid thing......
Name:
K. Radha,
Country: australia
ohhh that was an incredibly interesting read. it is a shame that there are societies that are so biased towards one sex that the other could be murdered. education is he key and i think things are slowly changing toward a more balanced way of viewing gender.
i believe it is true that dowry might be a large part of why people wish for boys. i find the idea of dowries offensive. why should anyone feel the need to pay someone to marry thie daughter? how many deaths & injuries occur to young brides because of the dowry?
as for those saying it was a male bashing artical could you please send me the link to what ever it is your read because it sure was not this artical. i found it to be informative and objective(those who believed this was male bashing may need to look up the meaning od objective... fools)
Name:
rose,
Country: usa
men are such losers
Name:
Annonymous,
Country: canada
i don't think that only in india and china people prefer to have boys. it is worldwide and in all cultures. in the asian society it is more because of dowry system, girls being burnt killed as well as many other tortures for not full filling demands made by the boys' family. no parent can see their child in pain. you can have a mean daughter-in-law/ but she does not torture your son, in anyway. that is why people prefer to have sons they don't want to go through the pain of seeing their daughters unhappy. and i don't find this article offensive to men - they shouldn't be complaining.
The status of women in most 'third world' and developing countries remains a cause for concern. Why do we have such a preference for a male child? What is it that a male child provides parents with, that a female child cannot? 
