International Journal of Social Science : Vol. 3. No. 4, 457-462, Dec 2014

DOI No. 10.5958/2321-5771.2014.00019.2

Preference for son: Cry of unborn girl

Renu Yadav

Department of Education, Coordinator Women Empowerment Cell, Central University of

Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana, India.

Corresponding author: ryadavrenu@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Preference for son is visible in India in the form of skewed sex ratio. Patriarchal

shackles never let girl born and flourish in beautiful earth. However, only

patriarchy is not the norm for preference of male over female. Many psychological

and economic dimensions are involved in this aspect. The present paper highlights

these perspectives especially in the context of Haryana which is prosperous in

terms of GDP but poor in sex ratio.

Keywords : Female foeticide, Psychological perspective, Economic Perspective

“It’s a miracle a woman survives in India. Even before she is born, she is at

risk of being aborted due to our obsession for sons,”

Shemeer Padinzjharedil.

Introduction

We are living in the era of power, power in the form of political, economic, social,

cultural, religious and technological. This power is exercised against the person

who is subjugated and oppressed. Subsequently the culture of masculinity also

exaggerated supremacy and power in societal structure. The culture becomes

inherent in our society and constitutes integral part of the man mentality converted

into female’s oppression. Thus for getting share in power and gender equality

women always have to fight within family and society. History reveals the struggle

and misfortune as an integrated part of woman. However, struggle is not ending

and women always live with no choice, voice and right.

Unequal distribution of power and rights are visible in every arena of life and

misfortune is that it is more rampant before birth. Statistics indicate that violence

against women and girls is a universal phenomenon, irrespective of income, class

and culture (as 7 in 10 women in the world report having experienced physical and/

or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime). The condition become worsens