Planning families, planning gender : the adverse child sex ratio in selected districts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab
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Date
2008
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Publisher
ActionAid, New Delhi, IN
Abstract
This study explored the structural dynamic within families living in some of the lowest child sex ratio districts in India. The growing prevalence of the small family veers from one to three children with more families having one boy and one girl. However, study findings show that this is complemented by ‘choices’ that are heightening masculinisation and deepening an aversion towards daughters: significant numbers are having one son, two sons, two sons and daughter, but rarely “only” daughters. Any improvement in economic circumstances increases access to testing through ultrasound which enables planning and achieving the desired family. This is an exhaustive study of contributing factors in sex distribution.
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Book
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Keywords
GENDER DISCRIMINATION, SEX DISTRIBUTION, FAMILY PLANNING, CASTE SYSTEM, SON PREFERENCE, MALES, HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES, KINSHIP, PATRIARCHY, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, INDIA, SOUTH ASIA