India’s 63 million ‘missing’ women
Gender inequality and preference for boys has led to millions of ‘unwanted’ girls
More than 20 million girls in India are effectively “unwanted”, with more than 60 million statistically “missing”, a new report into gender inequality by the Indian government has claimed.
The preference for boys and the availability of sex-selective operations, although technically illegal, has resulted in a gender gap of as many as 63 million girls, classified as “missing” by the comprehensive Economic Survey 2017-18. Couples’ tendency to keep trying until a boy is born has also led to the birth of an estimated 21 million girls, who the report terms “notionally unwanted”.
The Guardian says: “The birth of a son is often a cause for celebration and family pride, while the birth of a daughter can be a time of embarrassment and even mourning as parents look towards the immense debts they will need to take on to pay for marriage dowries.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Combined with an ingrained preference for boys due to the norms governing inheritance, the tradition of "patrilocality" - women joining their husbands’ households - and rituals which need to be performed by male children, the result is that “India has one of the most skewed sex ratios in the world”, says CNN.
India regularly ranks among the worst countries on earth in terms of economic participation and opportunity for females, women’s health and education for girls.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Saint Paul de Vence: a paradise for art lovers
The Week Recommends The hilltop gem in the French Riviera where 20th century modernism flourished
By Alexandra Zagalsky Published
-
'People in general want workers to earn a decent living'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What might a Trump victory mean for the global economy?
Today's Big Question A second term in office for the 'America First' administration would send shockwaves far beyond the United States' shores
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Pope aide under fire for 'mystical orgasms' book
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Thieves who stole shopping bag in for big disappointment
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman has one in 50 million pregnancy
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The spiralling global rice crisis
feature India’s decision to ban exports is starting to have a domino effect around the world
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
The sinister side to India’s fantasy gaming craze
feature Fantasy gaming is booming in India, despite the country's ban on gambling
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
India hoping to be fourth country to reach Moon after Chandrayaan-3 launch
Speed Read Rocket aiming to set its lander Vikram down near Moon’s little-explored south pole
By Jamie Timson Published
-
Why does India have so many train crashes?
Today's Big Question The deadly Odisha crash is the latest in a string of rail accidents in the country
By Justin Klawans Published
-
More than 260 killed and 900 injured in Indian train crash
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published