female foeticide

I am a female and my heart aches when I hear of female foeticide cases. What is most saddening is that it’s the females themselves (especially the mother-in-laws) who encourage such horrendous acts. It’s beyond comprehension as to why do they forget that they themselves are females and it’s only a female who can give birth to that the male they desire so much. In India, soon after marriage the pressure to produce a child starts mounting. And the pressure is not only for any child, it’s for a ‘boy’. And soon after the ‘bahu’ gives the ‘good news’, everyone starts praying endlessly for a male child. The mother-to-be is made to do so many puja’s, eat so many types of things, and visit so many different pundits so that she bears nothing but a boy. She is looked upon with raised eyebrows and declared impudent if she happens to reveal her desire of having a girl child. Mother’s won’t allow their pregnant daughters to put up posters of cute girl children (in fear that it might change the gender of the baby in the womb). A friend of mine recently gave birth to a girl for the second time and the first reaction everyone had was “Don’t worry, it’s alright”. Its strange how a “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you” suddenly changes into a condolence as if some calamity had taken place.

The root cause of this is ignorance of people, lack of education and low status of women in society. The status of women in a society can be determined by their education, health, economic role, presence in the professions and management, and decision-making power within the family. It is deeply influenced by the beliefs and values of society. Islam permits polygamy and gives women fewer rights than men. Among Hindus, preference for the male child is likewise deeply enshrined in belief and practice. Hinduism represent the ideal woman as obedient and submissive, and always needing the care of a male: first father, then husband, then son.

The birth of a son is regarded as essential in Hinduism and many prayers and lavish offerings are made in temples in the hope of having a male child. Modern medical technology is used in the service of this religion-driven devaluing of women and girls.

Religion operates alongside other cultural and economic factors in lowering the status of women. The need for a dowry for girl children, and the ability to demand a dowry for boys exerts considerable economic pressure on families to use any means to avoid having girls, who are seen as a liability. For a poor family, the birth of a girl child can signal the beginning of financial ruin and extreme hardship.

What people need to realize now is that if given a chance, women can do as brilliantly as men in any sphere of life. She can be a wife, a mother and a professional all at one time, and she can manage all the chores with equal proficiency. When God created this universe, he didn’t create an inferior or a superior being. He simply created a male and a female who had to undertake the journey of life together, walking hand in hand, not one following the other. Let’s not destroy the delicate balance created by him by obliterating the very source of life’s origin.