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Essay on Female Foeticide for Students in English [500 Words]

January 4, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Female Foeticide: Aborting or terminating female fetuses in the womb before its growth and development is called female foeticide. India has always been a male dominated society with greater affinity for sons and not daughters. This mindset, especially among the uneducated masses, has led to the killing of female fetuses. Detection of sex before birth by misusing medical technologies is considered illegal in India. Female foeticide is a significant factor for the declining sex ratio in our country.

Essay on Female Foeticide 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Female Foeticide Essay in English, suitable for class 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

It’s an irony that even in the world of the 21st century, homo sapiens are still keeping up with their gender biases and are practicing brutalities like female foeticide and infanticide. Ever wondered how the world would be like without girls and women? Do these murderers who do female foeticide even realize that there, in fact, won’t exist any world without women? What gives these insane people the right to take lives and kill innocent children even before they take birth just because of their gender? It’s high time to make these people learn the lessons of civilization and humanity. We need to protect the girl child and let them live a life of dignity, equal opportunities, and freedom.

What is Female Foeticide?

As a medical term, foeticide is the destruction of a fetus in the womb of the mother itself. Ultrasound technology is available using which sex of the child can be determined while the fetus is in the womb and parents who don’t want a girl child undergo this test and then kill the baby in the womb before it is born.

The sex-selective abortion is not at all supportable. ‘Historically, in the absence of genetic testing, infanticide was the only inhumane option for discarding the female child. This heinous practise continues even today in India’s southern parts, where families cannot afford an illegal ultrasound test.

According to a recent figure, A UN Report was recorded saying that at least 117 million girls worldwide demographically go “missing” due to sex-selective abortion. South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, China, and Tibet are the prominent recorders of high female foeticide incidents. Also, UNICEF estimates that the foeticide industry’s turnover has now reached 244 million dollars from 77 million dollars in 2006.

Factors Responsible for Female Foeticide

Economic Factors: Many parents who expect a girl child opt to have an abortion because of the economic factors involved. They believe that raising a girl child would not be economically viable as they will have to marry her off, and all the expenditure on her education and other things won’t do any good to them.

Socio-Ritual Factors: Daughters are also perceived as a disgrace in Indian society as the parents have to maintain a status in society. A typical traditional Indian family wishes that their family name continues, which, according to them, can be done only through a son.

Technical Factors: The technical factors responsible for the surging number of female foeticide cases are the viable availability of ultrasonic machines that can detect the gender of the fetus in the womb itself.

Effective Measures to Control

Government and individual institutions are trying their best to deal with this menace .Here are few prevalent laws implemented by the governments of India and China:-

• Beijing, China has the Population and Family Planning Law of the People’s Republic of China of 2002 that prohibits sex identification of foetus and sex-selective abortions.
• In India, the Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (amended in 2003) prohibits sex-selection or disclosure of the sex of the foetus. It also prohibits sale of “any ultrasound machine or any other equipment capable of detecting sex of foetus” to persons, laboratories and clinics not registered under the Act .The government of India also recently launched the ‘BETI BACHAO ,BETI PADHAO’ Movement in order to promote girl education and demote the practice of female foeticide and infanticide.
• Nepal, in 2002, amended the Country Code, Muluki Ain, to allow abortion on medical grounds and prohibit sex-selective abortions.
• The Population Ordinance (2006) and Prime Minister Decree (2006) of Vietnam prohibits all practices of antenatal foetal sex diagnosis and sex selection.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India has targeted education and media advertisements to reach clinics and medical professionals to increase awareness. The Indian Medical Association has undertaken efforts to prevent prenatal sex selection by giving its members Beti Bachao (save the daughter) badges during its meetings and conferences.

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Breaking Chains: Battling Female Foeticide on the Road to Gender Equality

Introduction: Confronting Challenges and  Condemning Female Foeticide

Women have historically faced social, economic, and political disparities , leading to movements for change, such as the suffrage movement, feminism , and advocacy for gender equity, including the pervasive issue of female foeticide. Despite significant progress, women’s struggles continue, with women and allies working to create a more just and inclusive world where gender should not be a determinant of opportunities, rights, or dignity.

Where does the Struggle of Women Start? – Breaking Gender Norms & Tackling Female Foeticide

• Gender Identity: Being a boy or a girl is an important part of one’s identity. 
• Societal Expectations: The society in which we grow up teaches us what kind of behaviour is acceptable for girls and boys, and what boys and girls can or cannot do.
• Family Influence: That means the struggle of women starts from the very family in which she grows, encompassing challenges like female foeticide.
• Cultural Variations: We often grow up thinking that these things are exactly the same everywhere. 
• This is because we are most familiar with our own experiences. 
• Generational Differences: If we talk to elders in our family, we will see that their childhoods were probably very different from ours. 

Various Challenges Faced by Women : Progress and Persisting Challenges, Including Female Foeticide

• However, the status of women in India has been a topic of debate and concern for many years. 
• Concerns Remained: Despite the progress made in recent years, there are still many challenges that women in India face today and one of them is female foeticide.

Female Foeticide and Battling Multifaceted Challenges

• Infanticide: Female foeticide and infanticide, particularly in rural areas, remain a significant concern.
• Safety Concerns: Women’s safety and security are also a significant issue, with many incidents of sexual harassment and assault reported each year.
• Gender Pay Gap: Women often earn less than men for similar work, leading to economic inequality.
• Gender-Based Violence : Women frequently experience domestic violence, sexual harassment, and assault, perpetuating fear and insecurity.
• Limited Access to Education: In many parts of the world, girls have less access to quality education, limiting their opportunities and perpetuating cycles of poverty.
• Underrepresentation in Leadership : Women are underrepresented in political and corporate leadership roles, depriving society of diverse perspectives and policies.
• Unequal Household Responsibilities : Women often shoulder the majority of unpaid care work, impacting their careers and well-being.
• Child Marriage: Forced child marriages rob girls of their childhood, health, and education.
• Cultural Norms: Deeply ingrained norms and stereotypes perpetuate gender bias and discrimination.                                         

Progress and Achievements: Triumphs Amidst Challenges, Tackling Female Foeticide

• Women’s Empowerment: In recent years, there have been many positive developments in India’s efforts to empower women. 
• Government Programs and Policies: The government has implemented several programs and policies aimed at improving women’s health, education, and economic opportunities. 
• Increased Workforce Participation: There has been a significant increase in the number of women participating in the workforce, and women have achieved high positions in various fields, including politics, business, and entertainment.

Conclusion: 

• Acknowledging Achievements: It is essential to recognize the achievements made so far and continue to work towards a more equitable and just society for women.
• Equitable Society : By addressing the challenges that women in India face and promoting gender equality, stakeholders can ensure that women can fully participate in all aspects of life and contribute to the development of the country.

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‘Female foeticide’

Published: 10th Aug, 2019

As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) data released in July for the period 2015-2017, female foeticide continues to increase at an alarming rate .

Sample Registration System (SRS) data findings on sex ratio at birth (SRB)

• The sex ratio at birth (SRB) has been dropping continuously since Census 2011, coming down from 909 girls per thousand boys in 2011-2013 to 896 girls in 2015-2017.
• Of the 21 large States, only two — Kerala and Chhattisgarh — had an SRB of above 950 girls per 1000 boys
• At present, about 5% of girls are ‘eliminated’ before they are born, despite the promises of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.

Economic Survey 2017-2018 also highlighted this problem.

• The biologically determined natural sex ratio at birth is 1.05 males for every Any significant deviation from this is on account of human intervention – specifically, sex-selective abortion.
• While India has shown improvement in several parameters related to women's empowerment, the preference for a son has not diminished .
• As a result, the stock of missing women as of 2014 was nearly 63 million and more than 2 million women go missing across age groups every year (either due to sex selective abortion, disease, neglect, or inadequate nutrition).
• There has been son meta-preference in Indian parents who prefer to have children until the desired numbers of sons are born.
• This has led to the creation of 21 million “unwanted” girls in India between 0 and 25 years. They are neglected of adequate nutrition.
• The male child preference is highest in Punjab and Haryana and lowest in Meghalaya .

Way forward

• Stringent implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (PCPNDT Act) is required.
• Schemes such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samridhi Yojana , enhanced maternity leave and mandatory creches in workplaces are steps in the right direction and must be implemented effectively.
• Stronger commitment on the gender front is required similar to the government’s push for Ease of Doing Business and the nation must confront the societal preference for male.

About Sample Registration System

• Office of the Registrar General, India, under the Home Ministry initiated Sample Registration System (SRS) in 1964-65 on a pilot basis and on full scale from 1969-70.
• The SRS since then has been providing data on regular basis. It provides accurate, up-to-date fertility and mortality data via registration of births and deaths.
• It thus helps in an adequate evaluation of a number of programs in the health sector, including family planning, maternal and reproductive health, and immunization programs.

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Essay on Female Foeticide for Students and Children

500+ words essay on female foeticide.

Female foeticide is the aborting of a girl fetus in the womb before its complete growth. Why? This is because that it is female? Female foeticide has become a disgraceful and shocking truth of our nation. In India a strong fondness for sons over daughter. People desire smaller families with comparatively greater sons by abuse medical technologies. It is one of the main motives for declining sex ratio.

What is Female Foeticide?

Female foeticide is the procedure of abortion to terminate female fetus from the womb of the mother before taking birth after the sex recognition tests like an ultrasound scan. Female foeticide and even any sex recognition test is illegal in India. It is the shame for the parents who are despairing for a baby boy as well as doctors doing abortions especially for this.

Causes of Female Foeticide:

Female foeticide has been in practice for periods especially for the families who have a preference only male child. Several religious, social, financial and emotional are the reason for female foeticide. Therefore the time has been changed now much however, many reasons and beliefs are ongoing in some families. Some main reasons for female foeticide are:

• Generally, parents don’t want a girl baby because they have to give a big amount as a dowry at daughter’s marriage.
• There is a faith that girls are always consumer and boys are the only producer. Thus Parents understand that son will earn money for the whole life and care their parents however girls will get married a day and will have a separate family.
• There is a belief that the son will carry the name of the family in future however the girl has to carry the husband’s family.
• This is a prestige issue in society for parent and grandparent to have a boy baby in the family besides having a daughter.
• There is a stress on the new bride of the family to give birth to a male child so she is enforced to go for sex recognition and abort if girl baby.
• Illiteracy, insecurity, and poverty of people in society are also major reasons for girl baby burden.
• Science and Technological advancement and utilities have made this very easy task for parents.

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Impact of female foeticide on the sex ratio:

Sex ratio denotes the ratio of females to males in a specific region. Many practices like female foeticide and female infanticide (killing a baby girl after her birth) have had a contrary influence on the sex ratio. Thus it rises and promotes many social evils.

As per the decennial Indian census, Sex Ratio of India is 107.48. It means 107.48 males per 100 females in 2019. Therefore India has 930 females per 1000 males. So, India has 48.20% female population compare to 51.80% male population.

Effective Measures to Control:

As we all know that female foeticide is a crime and social evil for the future of women. Hence we should notice the causes for female foeticide in Indian society. Female infanticide or female feticide is primarily because of sex determination. Some measures are:

• Law must be implemented and one should be surely punished if found guilty for this unkind exercise.
• Permanent cancellation of license should be done if it is going on in medical practice.
• Marketing of medical tools specifically for illegal sex determination and abortion should be a bane.
• Parents must be fined who want to kill their girl baby.
• Campaigns and seminars should be regularly held to aware of young couples.
• Women should be aware so that they can be more attentive to their rights.

Conclusion:

Forthcoming is the name of your girl child, past is the name of your mother. This is the reality that NO PRESENT, NO PAST, NO FUTURE WITHOUT GIRL CHILD. Female foeticide is suicide. So, save the girl child and secure the future. There will be the dangerous results of the female feticide. Demography reports warn India that in the next twenty years there will be a scarcity of brides in the marriage market mostly because of the adverse sex ratio.

400 Words Essay on Female Foeticide

Female foeticide refers to a practice which removes the female fetus after 18 weeks of growth in the uterus . This practice happens due to the child’s sex being female. In other words, it is a very regressive and shameful practice which still takes place in many parts of the world.

Moreover, this practice just goes to show the importance of women in society. People do not consider girls to be equal and only inferior to boys, which is why they kill a girl before being born. Furthermore, there are various causes of this practice which needs to be identified and resolved.

Causes of Female Foeticide

Female foeticide is completely unethical and illegal. This practice has roots in ancient history which people are following till date. There are various cultural and socio-economic reasons behind it. Most importantly, the sexism prevalent in the world is one of the main reasons for this practice. People prefer a boy over a girl even today. The reason behind this is the regressive thinking that the son will earn while the girls will only consume.

Moreover, another social evil of dowry makes people commit this crime. The old-age custom of dowry burdens the parents from the day a girl is born. This poses a big challenge for the parents who have to stress about her marriage and dowry all their lives. Furthermore, the low status given to women in this male-dominated world is another cause of female foeticide.

Above all, we see how parents only consider their children to carry forward their legacy. This totally neglects the girl’s importance and forces her to only handle the household work. Similarly, the technological advancements in today’s world have made it easier for anyone to get an abortion done and determine the sex of the child.

Ways to Prevent Female Foeticide

It is very clear by now that female foeticide is a crime and a great social disaster. After identifying the reasons behind this unethical practice, we must strive to eradicate it completely. Firstly, sex determination is a great cause for this crime. Thus, the determination of the sex of the fetus must be made illegal. Moreover, stringent measures must be taken to ensure they are followed correctly.

Furthermore, the government must ban the easy availability of the medical equipment one needs for sex determination and abortion. They must jail those found guilty of practicing this crime must and government must terminate their license. Moreover, the parents who aim to do it must be penalized heavily. Above all, people must be made aware of this unethical practice at all levels. We must empower our young women and girls to practice their right diligently.

In conclusion, we must respect the daughters of our country. Also, they must be given the same priority as their sons. Girls do not have access to education, healthcare and more as the boys do. This is why parents consider them a burden. Therefore, all these facilities must be made accessible to them for the same. This will help them create an identity of their own.

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29.1 Female Foeticide

I. introduction to female foeticide and gender discrimination, definition and scope.

• Female Foeticide : The practice of aborting a fetus because it is female is known as female foeticide. This act is a manifestation of deep-rooted gender discrimination and is often linked to cultural, social, and economic biases favoring male offspring.
• Gender Discrimination : An umbrella term that includes any unequal treatment or biases based on a person’s gender. Female foeticide is a severe form of gender discrimination, emphasizing the lesser value placed on female lives.
• Scope of Female Foeticide : It encompasses ethical, legal, social, and cultural aspects and varies significantly from region to region, particularly prevalent in countries with strong son preference like India.
• Intrinsic and Instrumental Value of Females : The act questions the intrinsic value of females, often subjecting them to an instrumental value where they are valued for certain roles like marriage and dowry.

Historical Overview

• Historical Prevalence : The practice of female foeticide dates back centuries, with historical evidence suggesting it was common in patriarchal societies where sons were preferred for economic and lineage reasons.
• Cultural Evolution : The methods and justifications for female foeticide have evolved with technology and societal changes. With the advent of ultrasound technology in the 1960s, the ability to determine the sex of a fetus has led to a more widespread occurrence of this practice.
• Historical Responses : Different cultures have had varying responses to female foeticide, from acceptance to condemnation, often reflecting the value system of the time.

II. The Cultural and Social Foundations of Female Foeticide

Sociocultural dynamics.

• Societal norms, values, and structures play a pivotal role in perpetuating female foeticide.
• Patriarchy is a dominant form of social organization in many societies, where male dominance shapes social, economic, and political structures.
• Preference for male offspring is often rooted in historical and cultural practices where males are seen as carriers of lineage and family name.
• In India, the societal construct of family honor is closely tied to male heirs, reinforcing the preference for sons.
• Societal pressure on women to produce male heirs can lead to female foeticide, with women themselves sometimes complicit due to internalized patriarchal values.

Religious and Mythological Influences

• Different religions and mythologies narrate the roles and status of genders differently, influencing societal gender preferences.
• Hinduism : In some Hindu texts, the birth of a son is celebrated, while the birth of a daughter is often met with less enthusiasm.
• Islam and Christianity : Life is considered sacred from conception, but cultural practices within communities may show a preference for male children.
• Sikhism : The religion preaches equality of all humans, yet cultural practices in Sikh communities may still show a bias for sons.
• Mythological narratives often glorify the male heroes, warriors, and kings, setting a cultural expectation for male valor and lineage continuation.

Role of Traditional Practices

• Many traditional practices and rites across cultures emphasize the importance of a male heir.
• The concept of “Kanyadaan” in Hindu weddings, where a daughter is given away, implies a lesser status for females.
• Traditional property inheritance laws favored male offspring, thus promoting a preference for male children to continue the family legacy.
• Rituals such as ancestor worship and last rites in India typically require a male descendant, further entrenching the preference for sons.

Economic Factors

• Female foeticide is often economically motivated, rooted in gendered economic disparities.
• The dowry system, prevalent in India, often places financial burden on the bride’s family, leading to a perception of daughters as a financial liability.
• Agricultural and rural families may prefer male offspring for their labor value and to secure land inheritance.
• Female children are often perceived as economic dependents, while male children are considered as financial contributors.

Media Portrayal

• The media and popular culture play significant roles in reinforcing or challenging gender biases.
• Bollywood movies and television serials often propagate stereotypes that valorize sons and sideline daughters.
• Advertising in India sometimes reinforces traditional gender roles, indirectly contributing to a son-preference mindset.
• However, there are increasing examples of media challenging these norms, with campaigns and stories aimed at elevating the status of the girl child.

III. Legal and Political Perspectives on Female Foeticide

National laws and policies.

• India’s Legal Framework : The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (PCPNDT Act), implemented in 1994, prohibits sex selection before or after conception and bans the advertisement of any technique that can be used for sex determination.
• China’s Regulation : China’s Population and Family Planning Law, revised in 2002, aims to reduce the sex ratio imbalance and prohibit sex-selective abortions.
• Infanticide Laws : Many countries have laws against infanticide which indirectly impact the practice of female foeticide, such as the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that criminalizes the killing of an infant.
• Gender Equality Laws : Several nations have gender equality laws that, while not addressing female foeticide directly, create a legal atmosphere that disfavors gender-based discrimination.
• Variations in Legal Enforcement : The strictness of laws and their enforcement against female foeticide vary globally, with some countries having rigorous legal processes while others may lack enforcement mechanisms.

International Human Rights Perspective

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) : Established by the United Nations in 1948, the UDHR advocates for the right to life and liberty, indirectly supporting the fight against female foeticide.
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) : Adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, it condemns discrimination against women, including practices like female foeticide.
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) : Entered into force in 1976, the ICCPR affirms the right to life, crucial in the context of female foeticide.
• Role of International Agencies : Organizations like UNICEF and WHO actively work to raise awareness and influence policies against sex-selective abortion practices.

Political Theories and Feminism

• Liberal Feminism : Focuses on the legal and political equality of the sexes, advocating for laws that ensure equal rights, and would naturally oppose any form of gender discrimination including female foeticide.
• Radical Feminism : Addresses the root causes of gender inequality , seeing female foeticide as a symptom of deeper systemic issues and calling for fundamental societal changes.
• Socialist Feminism : Attributes the practice of female foeticide to capitalist structures and patriarchy, advocating for economic and social systems change to eradicate the practice.
• Ecofeminism : Connects the oppression of women to that of the environment, viewing female foeticide as part of the larger issue of disrespect for life and nature.

Government Initiatives and Their Efficacy

• India’s ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ Campaign : Launched in 2015 to address the declining child sex ratio and to promote the value of girl children.
• Conditional Cash Transfer Schemes : Programs like ‘Dhanalakshmi’ in India offer financial incentives to families to encourage them to value girl children.
• Awareness Programs : Efforts to educate the public about the negative consequences of gender imbalance and the importance of girls in society.
• Measuring Efficacy : Challenges in gauging the success of initiatives due to the clandestine nature of female foeticide and cultural resistance to change.

Enforcement and Justice

• Challenges in Enforcement : Social and bureaucratic hurdles often impede the effective enforcement of laws against female foeticide.
• Corruption and Complicity : Instances of corruption within the judicial system and among law enforcement officials can lead to a lack of accountability.
• Judicial Activism : Courts, especially in India, have occasionally taken proactive steps to enforce laws against female foeticide through directives and monitoring.
• Impact of Grassroots Movements : Local and grassroots movements have been pivotal in bringing cases of female foeticide to light and demanding justice.
• Victims’ Access to Justice : Socioeconomic barriers often prevent families from seeking legal recourse, and persistent gender biases can impact the delivery of justice in cases of female foeticide.

IV. Philosophical and Ethical Implications of Female Foeticide

Ethical theories and female foeticide.

• Deontological Ethics : Kantian ethics, which emphasizes duty and the categorical imperative, would argue that female foeticide is inherently wrong regardless of consequences, as it treats the female fetus merely as a means to an end rather than an end in itself.
• Utilitarianism : This theory suggests assessing the action based on its consequences. Female foeticide might be argued against by utilitarians if it leads to a societal imbalance or suffering, but some utilitarians might argue for the parents’ right to choose if it maximizes their happiness.
• Virtue Ethics : From an Aristotelian viewpoint, virtue ethics would focus on the moral character of the individuals involved, and would likely condemn female foeticide as it does not align with virtues such as fairness and respect for life.
• Ethical Relativism : This perspective might suggest that the moral value of female foeticide is dependent on cultural context, although this approach faces criticism for potentially allowing cultural practices to dictate the value of human life.

Personhood and Moral Status

• Defining Personhood : Philosophers differ on when personhood begins; some argue it starts at conception, others at birth, or at the development of certain cognitive capabilities.
• Moral Status of the Fetus : The moral status of the fetus, and at which stage of development it should be granted rights, is a contentious issue. Some argue for fetal rights at conception, while others propose viability or sentience as benchmarks.
• Implications for Female Foeticide : If personhood is granted early in gestation, female foeticide could be equated with the moral status of killing a person; if not, the act might be viewed differently.

Autonomy and Consent

• Women’s Bodily Autonomy : The principle of bodily autonomy suggests that women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies, which includes the right to abort a pregnancy.
• Gender-based Termination : However, the ethical issue arises when abortion is sought specifically for gender selection, which conflicts with moral principles against discrimination.
• Consent and Coercion : In some cases, women may be coerced into female foeticide by family or societal pressure, which complicates the issue of consent.

Rights-based Approaches vs. Duty-based Approaches

• Rights-based Ethics : This framework posits that individuals have certain inalienable rights, such as the right to life, which would be violated by female foeticide.
• Duty-based Ethics : Here, the focus is on the moral duties or obligations individuals have towards each other. Under this approach, there is a duty not to engage in discriminatory practices like female foeticide.
• Comparing Both Approaches : Rights-based ethics focuses on protecting individual rights, while duty-based ethics emphasizes moral obligations to others and to society.

The Gendered Nature of Moral Reasoning

• Moral Reasoning Biases : Some argue that moral reasoning has been historically biased towards a male perspective, which could impact current ethical evaluations of practices like female foeticide.
• Feminist Ethics : Feminist ethicists highlight that ethical discussions have often marginalized women’s perspectives, including their moral reasoning concerning reproductive rights.
• Re-evaluating Ethics : There’s a call for re-evaluating ethical frameworks to ensure they do not inherently favor one gender over another, particularly in issues like female foeticide.

V. Psychological and Anthropological Dimensions of Female Foeticide

Individual psychology.

• Cognitive Dissonance: Individuals may experience mental discomfort when their actions contradict their ethical beliefs, potentially leading to rationalizations for female foeticide.
• Gender Bias Internalization: People may internalize societal gender biases, leading to a preference for male children and justifying female foeticide.
• Stress and Coping Mechanisms: In societies with a high preference for male heirs, the stress of producing a male child can influence decisions to commit female foeticide.
• Decision Making: The psychological process behind the decision to commit female foeticide often involves weighing the perceived benefits against moral considerations.
• Psychological Impact: Those who undergo or perform foeticide may face long-term psychological effects such as guilt, trauma, or depression.

Collective Consciousness

• Social Norms: Collective consciousness is shaped by social norms which can normalize or condemn female foeticide.
• Cultural Acceptance: In some cultures, female foeticide is tacitly accepted due to longstanding traditions, creating a collective mentality that does not question the practice.
• Peer Pressure: Individuals may feel pressured by their community or family to conform to the practice of female foeticide.
• Societal Sanctions: Societies may impose sanctions, either formally or informally, on those who do not adhere to the norms that encourage male births over female births.

Gender Identity and Socialization

• Social Construct of Gender: Gender identity is often constructed through societal expectations and cultural practices, influencing attitudes toward female foeticide.
• Role of Family: Families play a critical role in socializing children into gender roles that can perpetuate gender-based discrimination, including female foeticide.
• Education and Gender Roles: Educational systems can either reinforce traditional gender roles or promote gender equality, affecting attitudes toward female foeticide.
• Media Influence: Media representations of gender contribute to the shaping of gender identity and can either perpetuate or challenge norms related to female foeticide.

Cross-cultural Comparisons

• Comparative Analysis: Different cultures exhibit varying degrees of prevalence and acceptance of female foeticide, often correlated with the status of women in the society.
• Societal Value Systems: Societies that value males over females for economic or cultural reasons are more likely to practice female foeticide.
• Legal and Social Frameworks: The presence and enforcement of legal structures play a role in either deterring or facilitating female foeticide across cultures.
• International Variations: While some cultures have made significant progress in reducing female foeticide, others still have high rates due to entrenched patriarchal values.

Myths, Symbols, and Narratives

• Cultural Myths: Myths that glorify male lineage and devalue females can underpin attitudes towards female foeticide.
• Symbolism: Cultural symbols that associate positive attributes predominantly with males contribute to the devaluation of females.
• Narratives of Power: Stories and narratives that depict males as powerful and females as weak or burdensome perpetuate gender biases.
• Combating Myths: The reinterpretation or challenge of harmful myths, symbols, and narratives can help to combat the practice of female foeticide.

VI. The Impact of Female Foeticide on Society

Demographic consequences.

• Skewed Sex Ratios : Female foeticide leads to unnatural sex ratio imbalances, with significantly more males than females in the population.
• Aging Populations : Imbalanced sex ratios contribute to aging populations, as fewer women are available to bear children.
• Marriage Squeeze : With fewer women in the marriageable age group, societies experience a ‘marriage squeeze’ leading to social tensions and increased human trafficking.
• Population Decline : Long-term consequences of sustained female foeticide include population decline and the potential for demographic crises.

Social and Family Structures

• Family Dynamics : The preference for sons over daughters can strain family relationships and affect the mental health of family members.
• Social Cohesion : Female foeticide can lead to a breakdown in social cohesion, as it reflects and reinforces gender biases within the community.
• Community Roles : The absence of women in communities can lead to changes in traditional roles, sometimes increasing the burden on remaining women or altering community structures.
• Inheritance Patterns : With fewer females, inheritance patterns can shift, concentrating wealth and property among male heirs and affecting overall asset distribution.

Economic Impact

• Workforce Imbalance : A skewed sex ratio can result in a lack of women in the workforce, which can impact economic productivity and growth.
• Dowry System : In societies with prevalent dowry systems, such as India, a reduced number of females can ironically increase the financial burden on families with sons due to heightened dowry demands.
• Consumer Markets : Gender imbalances can affect consumer markets, with products and services shifting to cater to a predominantly male population.

Public Health and Welfare

• Maternal Health : Female foeticide affects maternal health statistics, including mortality rates, due to illegal or unsafe abortion practices.
• Mental Health : The practice can lead to psychological trauma and societal stress, impacting the mental health of communities.
• Healthcare Resources : Resources may be diverted to address the consequences of female foeticide rather than preventative care or other health priorities.
• Public Health Policies : Policymakers may need to adapt public health policies to address the specific challenges created by gender imbalances.

Gender Relations

• Status of Women : Persistent female foeticide undermines the status of women by valuing male life more highly.
• Gender Discrimination : The practice contributes to systemic gender discrimination, impacting all areas of life including education, employment, and politics.
• Empowerment Challenges : Efforts to empower women are complicated by the devaluation of female life that female foeticide represents.
• Social Movements : Female foeticide can galvanize social movements focused on gender equality, leading to increased activism and policy changes.

VII. Resistance and Activism Against Female Foeticide

Grassroots movements.

• Grassroots organizations have been pivotal in raising awareness about female foeticide, often leading community-level change.
• Women-led collectives in India, like the Gulabi Gang, have brought attention to gender-based violence and female foeticide.
• Local health workers, often known as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, have played a role in educating rural populations about the value of the girl child.
• Campaigns like ‘Save the Girl Child’ have mobilized communities to reject sex-selective practices and promote gender equality.
• The impact of these movements is seen in shifts in local attitudes and increased reporting of illegal practices related to female foeticide.

National and International Campaigns

• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has run several campaigns aimed at promoting gender equality and combating female foeticide.
• In India, the government-backed ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) initiative has aimed to address the declining child sex ratio.
• Celebrities and public figures have joined campaigns, using their influence to challenge norms and encourage shifts in cultural perceptions.
• The role of international bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) in setting ethical guidelines and advocating for the rights of the girl child is significant.

Role of Education

• Educational initiatives focus on changing societal attitudes through curriculum that emphasizes gender equality and the consequences of gender imbalance.
• Programs targeting young people aim to reshape perceptions before biases become entrenched.
• Gender sensitization workshops and inclusive education policies are critical in fostering an environment that values female life equally.
• Scholarships and incentives for girl child education, such as the ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’ in India, encourage families to invest in their daughters’ futures.

Legal Advocacy and Reform

• Legal advocates work to enforce existing laws like the PCPNDT Act and push for stricter penalties against those who engage in or facilitate female foeticide.
• Public Interest Litigations (PIL) in courts have been instrumental in bringing about policy changes and ensuring better implementation of laws.
• Reform efforts have focused on closing loopholes in the law that allow sex determination and selective abortion to continue under the guise of medical necessity.
• Collaboration between legal experts, activists, and the government has been essential in the fight against female foeticide.

Case Studies of Success and Failure

• Successful Interventions : In certain districts in India, targeted interventions have reversed the trend of declining female-to-male ratios.
• Failed Policies : Conversely, some policies have failed due to lack of effective implementation, monitoring, or because they didn’t address the root causes.
• Success Story : The state of Haryana, which once had one of the most skewed sex ratios in India, has seen improvements due to integrated approaches combining legal enforcement, awareness campaigns, and educational reforms.
• Learning from Failures : Understanding the reasons for failures, such as insufficient engagement with communities or inadequate legal frameworks, is essential for designing more effective strategies.

VIII. Comparative Religious and Philosophical Views on Female Foeticide

Hinduism, buddhism, and jainism.

• Hinduism : The scriptures and various schools of Hindu thought often promote the sanctity of life but may not address female foeticide directly. However, the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) is generally interpreted to oppose any form of harm, including abortion based on gender selection.
• Buddhism : Similar to Hinduism, Buddhism emphasizes non-harm (Ahimsa) and compassion for all living beings. The deliberate termination of a fetus, particularly out of gender preference, is generally viewed unfavorably in Buddhist ethics.
• Jainism : With its strong emphasis on non-violence and the sanctity of life, Jainism would strictly oppose female foeticide, viewing it as a significant violation of its core principles.

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism

• Christianity : The majority of Christian denominations uphold the sanctity of life from conception and typically oppose abortion, with the Catholic Church being particularly vocal against it. Female foeticide, as a form of abortion based on gender discrimination, would also be opposed.
• Islam : The Quran does not specifically address the issue of female foeticide, but life is considered sacred in Islam, and thus the practice is generally opposed. Some Islamic scholars and leaders have spoken out against it as contrary to Islamic teachings.
• Judaism : Jewish law places a high value on human life, and although there is some debate about when life begins, the practice of terminating a pregnancy purely based on the fetus’s gender would be viewed as unethical by most Jewish authorities.

Secular Humanism and Female Foeticide

• Secular Humanism : This philosophical stance emphasizes human dignity and the ethical treatment of all individuals. From a secular humanist perspective, female foeticide would be opposed as it discriminates against the female gender and undermines the principle of equal respect for all human beings.

Comparative Analysis of Religious and Secular Ethics

• The ethical arguments from both religious and secular perspectives generally align in their opposition to female foeticide, although the reasoning and foundational principles may differ.
• Religious ethics tend to base their arguments on the sacredness of life and divine commandments, while secular ethics rely on principles of human rights and gender equality.

Syncretism and Interfaith Dialogues

• Syncretism : This approach blends different religious and philosophical traditions, which can lead to a holistic stance against female foeticide by integrating diverse ethical viewpoints.
• Interfaith Dialogues : Dialogues between different faith communities have the potential to build a consensus on the moral repugnance of female foeticide, leading to unified social action against the practice.

IX. Philosophical Narratives and Critiques

Deconstruction of gendered language.

• The way language is used can subtly or overtly contribute to gender discrimination, and consequently, to the normalization of practices like female foeticide.
• Terms and phrases that reinforce gender stereotypes or confer lesser value to the female gender can perpetuate sexist attitudes.
• Analyzing linguistic patterns in literature, media, and everyday conversation reveals how language can contribute to societal biases.
• Efforts to neutralize gendered language in legal, educational, and media contexts have been seen as steps towards reducing gender-based discrimination.

Feminist Philosophies and Critiques

• Different schools of feminist thought offer varied critiques of female foeticide, often rooted in broader discussions of women’s bodily autonomy and rights.
• Liberal Feminism emphasizes legal and political equality and would critique female foeticide as a violation of women’s rights.
• Radical Feminism sees female foeticide as a symptom of patriarchal oppression and advocates for a systemic overhaul to eradicate such practices.
• Marxist Feminism could critique the economic underpinnings of female foeticide, linking it to women’s roles in capitalist societies.
• Cultural Feminism would focus on the cultural aspects that lead to female foeticide, promoting the value of female traits and roles in society.

Postcolonial Perspectives

• Postcolonial theory examines how colonial histories and power dynamics continue to influence current societal structures and practices, including female foeticide.
• It suggests that some practices of gender discrimination, including female foeticide, can be traced back to colonial-era policies and attitudes that disrupted traditional gender relations.
• Resistance to female foeticide can also be seen as a form of resistance against the continuation of colonial legacies.

Existentialist Views

• Existentialist philosophy, which values individual freedom and choice, would likely critique female foeticide as an infringement on the potentiality of being.
• Existentialism emphasizes the responsibility that comes with freedom, suggesting that choices such as engaging in female foeticide reflect on one’s moral character and authenticity.

Continental vs. Analytic Philosophical Traditions

• Continental Philosophy : Typically associated with European philosophers, continental philosophy may analyze female foeticide within the context of broader cultural and ethical systems.
• Analytic Philosophy : Predominantly practiced in English-speaking countries, it often employs a more logical and linguistic approach, critiquing the practice by dissecting arguments and examining ethical propositions.

X. The Future of Female Foeticide

Technological advances and ethical challenges.

• Advancements in Prenatal Technology : Non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) can determine gender early in pregnancy, posing challenges to preventing sex-selective practices.
• Genetic Editing Technologies : CRISPR and other gene-editing tools raise ethical concerns about future possibilities of sex selection pre-conception.
• Ethical Dilemmas : These technological advancements increase the need for robust ethical guidelines to prevent misuse for sex-selective purposes.
• Regulatory Challenges : Ensuring that new technologies are not employed for female foeticide requires vigilant regulatory frameworks and monitoring.

Policy Predictions and Recommendations

• Predicting Policy Evolution : As awareness grows, policies may evolve to include more stringent measures against prenatal gender discrimination.
• Enhancing Legal Frameworks : Strengthening laws to account for technological advancements in prenatal testing and gender selection.
• Recommendations for Reforms : Encouraging gender-neutral policies in family planning and reproductive rights; incentivizing balanced sex ratios at birth.
• Education and Awareness : Proposing increased investment in public education about the value of gender equality and the negative impacts of female foeticide.

The Role of International Cooperation

• Global Norms and Standards : The United Nations and other international bodies can play a key role in establishing global norms against female foeticide.
• Cross-Border Initiatives : International cooperation is essential to address sex-selective practices that cross borders due to varying legal restrictions.
• Sharing Best Practices : Countries with successful strategies can share insights and programs that can be adapted globally.
• Funding and Support : International aid and funding can be directed to support grassroots movements and educational campaigns in countries with high rates of female foeticide.

Ethical Education and Moral Development

• Curriculum Development : Incorporating ethics and gender studies into educational curricula to foster critical thinking about gender biases.
• Professional Training : Specialized training for healthcare and legal professionals on the ethical dimensions of sex selection.
• Moral Philosophy : Engaging with moral philosophy as a tool to understand and debate the ethical implications of female foeticide.
• Community Engagement : Initiatives aimed at community level to develop ethical reasoning that supports gender equality.

Envisioning a Gender-Equitable Society

• Possible Futures : Outlining scenarios where female foeticide is significantly reduced or eradicated due to cultural and policy shifts.
• Pathways to Equality : Strategies to promote gender equality, such as economic incentives, educational opportunities, and social campaigns.
• Overcoming Gender Biases : Addressing the root causes of gender bias and creating an environment that values female and male lives equally.
• Role of Media and Culture : Leveraging media, arts, and culture to reshape public perceptions and norms regarding gender.

XI. Conclusion

Synthesizing insights and looking forward.

• Summarizing Main Arguments : The book has traversed the historical, cultural, legal, and ethical landscapes of female foeticide, illuminating the complexities of the issue.
• Insights on Societal Impacts : Insights have been provided on the demographic shifts, social and family structure disruptions, economic impacts, public health ramifications, and the deepening of gender inequalities due to female foeticide.
• Technological and Policy Developments : Addressed the dual-edged nature of technological advancements in prenatal gender determination and the need for responsive policy frameworks.

Philosophical Reflections

• Moral and Ethical Dimensions : Explored the moral and ethical dimensions of female foeticide through various philosophical lenses including deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics.
• Feminist and Postcolonial Critiques : Discussed the feminist critiques and postcolonial perspectives that challenge the patriarchal structures perpetuating gender discrimination.
• Existential Questions : Considered existentialist views on choice and responsibility in the context of female foeticide.

Calls to Action

• For Individuals : Encourage active participation in challenging gender stereotypes and practices like female foeticide at the individual level.
• For Communities : Mobilize communities to engage in dialogue, education, and action against gender discrimination and foeticide.
• For Policymakers : Advocate for stronger legal protections, enforcement mechanisms, and policies that support gender equality and deter discriminatory practices.

Anticipating Challenges

• Cultural Resistance : Recognize the deep-rooted cultural norms that may resist change.
• Technological Misuse : Address the potential misuse of advancements in genetic and prenatal technologies.
• Policy Implementation : Identify the challenges in policy implementation and enforcement.

Final Thoughts

• Philosophy’s Role : Emphasized the importance of philosophy in dissecting, understanding, and addressing the nuanced aspects of female foeticide.
• Gender Discrimination : Recognized that the fight against female foeticide is integral to the broader struggle against gender discrimination.
• Future Outlook : Envisioned a society that not only eradicates female foeticide but also values gender equality as a foundational principle.

The conclusion chapter weaves together the multiple threads discussed throughout the book, offering a cohesive overview of the insights gained and the actions required moving forward. It reiterates the importance of a multi-faceted approach to tackling female foeticide and the need for continued philosophical inquiry and practical action to eliminate gender-based discrimination and promote a more equitable society.

• Analyze how different ethical theories shape our understanding of the moral status of female foeticide. (250 words)
• Discuss the impact of female foeticide on gender relations and societal structures. (250 words)
• Evaluate the effectiveness of international human rights instruments in addressing the issue of female foeticide. (250 words)

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[Rank List] UPSC Prelims Previous Year Paper (PYP) Retake Exam – Paper 1

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Un-Natural Selection: Female Feticide in India

This article was originally published in our Spring 2021 print issue .

I ndia’s skewed sex-ratio due to mass sex-selective abortions is based on the perception that women should be valued less than men in society. 

The Issue of Sex-Selective Abortions

A pregnant woman sits alone with her thoughts inside the cold, empty hospital consultation room in India. She simply wants to make sure her baby is okay, but in the back of her mind, she knows there is a lot riding on whether the baby is a boy or girl. She knows it is illegal to ask the doctor to disclose information about the sex of her baby, but is desperate to please her husband and in-laws with the news of a son. In the United States, finding out the sex of a baby is simply another regular milestone that parents undergo during pregnancy. Normally, the moment is filled with excitement and love, but that is not the case for women in India.

A poll by the Thomson Reuters Foundation found that India is ranked the most unsafe country for women. Their culture of perpetuating female inferiority and subordination contributes to a vicious cycle of mass sex-selective abortions and female feticide, which has exacerbated crimes against women. Sex-selective abortions , also known as female feticides, occur when female fetuses are aborted due to a cultural preference for sons. In India, the cause for female feticide is the overwhelming belief that women have less societal value than men. A lack of education among women, insufficient female leadership, and negative perceptions of women as “economic burdens” contribute to this view.

History of Female Feticide

Professor Anibel Ferus-Comelo, a professor at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy specializing in labor and gender studies in India, explained that “before technology, it used to be that births were just ‘hidden’ because of female infanticides. Baby girls were killed, and it continues among the population that cannot afford or do not have access to technology or medical clinics.”

In the 1970s, medical diagnostic testing using ultrasounds became available to determine the sex of a fetus during pregnancy. Using high-frequency sound waves, ultrasounds can display accurate images of a fetus within the mother’s uterus to understand fetal health, positioning, and visualize potential problems during pregnancy. However, a tool meant to help families prepare for a new life exacerbated India’s existing infanticide issue. Since sex determination technology became available in the 1970s, India is estimated to have about 63 million fewer women.

Female feticide based on sex-determination testing is a relatively new practice. It skyrocketed in India around the 1990s when ultrasound technology became widespread among upper-class and upper-caste society members. When the Indian government became aware of this technology, they passed the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (1994) , which made it illegal to determine the sex of a fetus unless it was necessary for urgent medical reasons. Despite the illegality of sex determination testing in India, this policy’s efficacy varied upon jurisdictional enforcement, which resulted in the continuation of mass sex-selective testing and abortions. As a result, it is estimated that there will be 6.8 million fewer female births by 2030, precisely due to the consistent practice of sex-selective abortions.

Root Causes Behind Female Feticide

Sex-selective abortions and female feticide are rooted in Indian patriarchal perceptions. From a cultural standpoint, Indian boys maintain the family legacy as they carry the family name and typically perform funeral rites for their parents, allowing their souls to have safe passage. These perceptions have bolstered the mentality that parents should value their sons and treat them with more pride and respect than Indian girls who are less valued in society. Although this view has become outdated among more globalized nations, India’s urban and rural areas continue to believe that women should be confined to their roles as caretakers and mothers.

Economically, boys have always been viewed as the “breadwinners” of the family. They have held the burden of getting a job and providing for their family. However, girls have continually been viewed as an economic burden, especially during marriage. In India’s rural areas, it is still common for girls to get married at a very young age. According to Girls Not Brides, a global partnership that aims to end child marriage, about 27% of girls in India are married before turning 18. When girls are married, their parents are expected to pay a “dowry” to the groom’s family, which is essentially a payment in cash, food, household items, and clothes. Professor Ferus-Comelo mentioned that dowries are “a very degrading practice. It almost symbolizes that you have to pay someone to take your daughter.” She further elaborated that the practice continues to be maintained, except that “Dowries are not necessarily called ‘dowries,’ but sometimes they are called ‘gifts,’ and that there are many other nomenclatures and euphemisms for them.” Once married, daughters are expected to take their husbands’ last name and move in with their family to begin their role within the home. As a result, young girls are often not well-informed, confident, or financially independent enough to make educated decisions about pregnancy and children.

The political culture in India further exacerbates the perception that women should be treated inferiorly. In the 1980s, political propaganda in India and the United States portrayed slogans such as “ Pay 5,000 now, save 50,000 later ” directed towards South-Asian communities to encourage them to pay the cost of sex-determination technology than having a daughter and bearing an economic cost in the future. Professor Ferus-Comelo remarked that, “The same ads, now decades later, have come back with the clinics offering the same possibilities, and it shows that there is still a market for sex-selective abortions even in the United States.” She also explained that the rise of the Hindu political right has furthered, “notions of womanhood tied exclusively to the heteronormative wife and mother roles. This then restricts women’s abilities to break out of these molds.”

Objectively, the preference for sons over daughters is further supported by data. Boys are more likely to receive higher quality medical treatment and food. On the contrary, girls have less access to quality healthcare, education, and work. The problem of female feticide in India is multifaceted with cultural, economic, and political factors, and each aspect reinforces the attitude that women’s lives should be valued less than men’s.

The Legality of Abortion in India

Both government and private entities provide healthcare services in India. However, government services are rare and lack the high quality of treatment, while private services provide a high standard of care but are not affordable to most of the population. Furthermore, Indian health insurance is not mandatory, and employers do not have a legal obligation to provide insurance to their employees. As a result, 70% of the population does not have health insurance, meaning that they have to pay for most services and procedures out-of-pocket.

Abortion is one of these procedures. Abortion is legal in India, but sex-selective abortions, abortions solely based on the sex of the fetus, are illegal. Legal abortions are performed strictly at the discretion of the physician. The woman does not have the right to choose whether she would like to have an abortion. A physician can perform a legal abortion if the fetus has any abnormalities, if the pregnancy is life-threatening to the mother or the fetus, if pregnancy occurred due to the failure of contraception in married women, and if the pregnancy resulted from instances of sexual assault or rape. In India, legal abortions can be performed within the first seven weeks of pregnancy using an abortion pill in the presence of a medical professional. However, after the first seven weeks have passed, surgery is required to abort a fetus to maintain the safety of the woman’s life. Insurance companies would cover some medical costs only if the pregnancy were terminated due to a medical threat to the woman’s life. Otherwise, the woman has to bear the total economic cost.

This raises an important question: why do women not have the autonomy to make decisions about having an abortion? Autonomy is not simply about making individual choices, but it also involves economic autonomy or independence. Even if a woman wants to have an abortion for medical reasons but cannot afford to, she may have to turn to unsafe or illegal options. Obviously, due to the illegal nature of sex-selective abortions, a woman’s only option is to use illegal or unsafe methods.

Exacerbation of Life-threatening, Sex-Selective Abortions by the Pandemic

Although abortion in India is legal, illegal abortions currently outnumber them because most abortions in India are solely based on the fetal sex preference for boys. Almost ten women die every day of unsafe, illegal abortions in India. According to India’s health ministry, nearly half of abortions are conducted in hazardous and unhygienic conditions and are often performed by untrained physicians or healthcare professionals.

Since sex determination tests are illegal within India, many women opt-in for diagnostic testing (conducted illegally by gangs), take sex selection drugs (SSDs), or try “old-wives tale” remedies to change the sex of the fetus after conception. Still, many women are unaware that the fetus’s sex is determined during the fertilization of the egg by sperm and cannot be changed after that. The mother donates an egg, which always contributes an X chromosome to the fetus’s genome, while the father’s sperm can contribute either an X or a Y chromosome. If the sperm contributes an X chromosome, the fetus will be a girl, while a Y chromosome indicates that it will be a boy. Not only are many women uninformed about this concept, but they take harmful drugs containing synthetic chemicals and heavy metals that often result in congenital disabilities and stillbirths.

Social Impact of a Skewed Sex Ratio

Studies show that countries with imbalanced sex-ratios tend to have a more violent culture . According to Professor Ferus-Comelo, “crimes against women, particularly by upper-caste on the lower-caste, continues when the signal goes out from the top-down that violence is okay and that they deserve it because they are beneath our level.” This can be observed in India’s north and northwestern states where the highest gender disparities exist and power is centralized among criminal gangs called goondas. Studies have shown that when there is an enormous surplus of men within countries with a skewed sex ratio (30+ million within India), they are unlikely to obtain stability economically through labor or socially through marriage. To gain economic stability, men are more likely to join criminal gangs . In order to gain social stability, men seek out marriage. However, in some areas where the ratio of women to men is alarmingly low, men cannot find girls to marry. As a result, brides are “purchased” from other areas leading to forced marriages and human trafficking . Professor Ferus-Comelo remarked that, “one would think, logically, that if there are fewer women, their value actually rises. Their value in the marriage market should increase. But, that is not the case.”

COVID-19 has exacerbated this issue as women are more likely to seek unsafe or illegal abortion options since medical professionals and resources have been redirected to help combat the pandemic. Even before the pandemic, domestic violence has been an immense problem in India. In 2018, “Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives” accounted for 32% of all crimes against women registered by the police amounting to over 100,000 cases. Due to quarantine orders, women are more likely to be trapped with abusive partners or lack access to contraception. Many Indian women who are victims of domestic violence have limited education and are usually unable to be financially independent. They have inadequate options and resources because they cannot turn to their parents due to social stigmas, or their parents cannot take them in due to financial burdens. However, the future looks optimistic as more organizations such as Shakti Shalini, Rise Up , and SNEHA Crisis Helpline are working to provide health and sexual education to girls and women in India to inform them about safe sex practices, contraception, and resources for domestic violence survivors.

Professor Ferus-Comelo explained that as more young people become exposed to other cultures and lifestyles, “people have higher expectations of one’s own culture.” She continued to explain that, “there has been a very positive, inspiring awakening of women when their worlds have been constrained, and they know there is greater potential.” The only way to combat the issue of such a complex problem of female-feticide is to solve the root causes: skewed political propaganda, and a lack of economic opportunities, and unenforced legislation.

South Korea , which also faced a severely skewed sex-ratio, implemented solutions that have shown promising results, and many Indian government officials are looking to emulate their approach. They improved, enacted, and strictly enforced laws that prohibited female feticide, encouraged and provided opportunities for more women to enter the labor force, and used the media to mobilize support for their initiatives.

India should work to allocate more resources to better enforce the Prohibition of Sex Selection Act. Although the government launched a similar campaign in 2015, it was unsuccessful. To improve their efforts, experts recommend that the government should charge doctors who conduct illegal sex determination testing with hefty fines and strengthen detection for illegal clinics and services provided by gangs.

Most importantly, the government should promote women’s education, provide better opportunities for women to enter the labor force, enable more women to serve political positions, and enact equal inheritance laws. Furthermore, health education on domestic violence awareness and safe sex practices should also be provided for men. Female education is one of the most influential factors in reducing gender discrimination and sexual violence. Studies prove that exposure to female leadership leads to a significant decrease in the gender gap for educational attainment (32%) . Moreover, introducing cable television to India’s rural areas and playing shows that had strong female characters or women in power caused preference for sons to decrease by 12% and school enrollment for children to increase by 5%. If women have better access to quality education, they can have better opportunities to enter the workforce and become financially independent. Professor Ferus-Comelo expressed that, “economic independence leads to less discrimination. If girls and women had equal access to wealth and income and legal inheritance rights, they could have a sense of economic independence, then these kinds of norms are going to change.”

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What you need to know

    By Nita Bhalla

    NEW DELHI (TrustLaw) - Early results of India's 2011 census reveal that fewer girls have been born over the last decade compared with boys, suggesting that the illegal practice of female foeticide - the killing of unborn girls - continues unabated.

    While the overall female to male ratio has improved since the last census in 2001, the number of girls under six-years-old has declined for the fifth decade running -- there are now only 914 girls to every 1,000 boys, compared with 927 a decade ago.

    Here are  key questions and answers about the practice in India and its implications

    WHY IS FEMALE FOETICIDE HAPPENING?

    In parts of largely patriarchal India, there is a strong preference for male children. Sons are traditionally viewed as the main breadwinners who will take care of the family, continue the family name, and perform the last rites of the parents - an important ritual in many faiths.

    But daughters are often seen as a burden - not just because of the worry of having to pay a substantial dowry to marry them off  but also due to the need to protect their virginity, which, if lost before marriage, often brings disrepute to the family.

    WHICH AREAS AND COMMUNITIES HAVE THE MOST SKEWED SEX RATIOS?

    According to latest census figures, the northwestern region of Haryana has the worst child sex ratio with 830 girls to every 1,000 boys -- with states like Punjab (846), Gujarat (886), Rajasthan (883) and even the capital New Delhi (866) following closely behind.

    Female foeticide cuts across all sections of Indian society – with no regard to caste, religion, or geography. It is practiced by the wealthy, the middle classes  and the poor, in urban areas and now spreading into rural regions.

    WHAT EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO STOP THE PRACTICE?

    India introduced the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques or Prohibition of Sex Selection Act in 1994 to prevent doctors disclosing the gender of babies to expectant parents using techniques likes ultrasonography and amniocentesis.

    Signs in hospitals and clinics clearly state that gender testing is an offence and pregnant women who go for an ultrasound are required to file declarations they will not seek to know the gender of the baby.

    However, activists say, this has not been enforced by local authorities and law enforcement agencies, resulting a rise of underground private clinics and unlicensed doctors illegally offering sex selection testing and abortions for anyone willing to pay.

    Police say it is not easy to catch offenders -- the agents, parents and doctors -- as the tests and subsequent abortions take place in a very clandestine manner. There have been few convictions, and penalties such as fines are too lenient to act as a deterrent.

    WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF HAVING FEWER WOMEN IN SOCIETY?

     Experts warn that increasing foeticide in India could spark a demographic crisis where fewer women in society will result in a rise in sexual violence, child-abuse and wife-sharing.

    They say that with fewer women in the population and more men of the same age group, the demand for women will surge in terms of marriage and sex and this pressure will increase violence against women.

    Practices such as polyandry -- where several men, often brothers, share the same wife-- are already emerging in areas where there are fewer women and brides are now being sold and trafficked by their parents to areas outside their own.

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• Female Foeticide Essay

Essay on Female Foeticide

Female Foeticide is the termination of female fetuses in the wombs of their mothers, for the selfish greed of having a male child. It is a matter of deep shame and a cause of great concern. The evil of Female Foeticide is deeply entrenched in our society and pervades all classes and castes of society. It is very heart-wrenching when a family does not think twice before killing a girl-child, though they indulge themselves in praying religiously to Goddess Lakshmi, Kali, and Durga. 

Even though prenatal sex determination results in fines as it is against the law, the civilians somehow find a way or an alternative method to detect the gender of the child, leading to bizarre situations as people often terminate the fetus. Despite several laws passed by the government, Female Foeticide is still prevailing and is common in India. It still lies in the roots of the country, worsening the condition of those women who are getting entangled in this horrific web of discriminating society.

What is Female Foeticide?

Female Foeticide is a medical procedure where a female fetus is aborted in the womb of the pregnant woman after identifying the gender of the fetus through ultrasound. This act is illegal in India. It is a social issue that causes unfair treatment of different genders in society.

When women get married, they have many dreams and aspirations for the new phase of life. They dream of having a good family and children. In India, however, pregnancy is often followed by the question of whether the unborn child is a girl or a boy. In our country, many people have a major obsession with sons. They think that a son is a cause for joy and lifetime security, and celebration. They have the view that a girl child is a cause of an economic drain as her marriage and dowry will crush the family under a huge burden of debts. 

Besides, we live in a patriarchal society where sons will always be preferred over girls as they are seen as lesser prized objects and weaker than men. Moreover, the social custom of India to marry off their daughters into a family of higher status is also a root cause of this issue, and the kin of the groom demands huge dowry consisting of a certain amount. Especially in rural areas, men are believed to take care of the family heritage and pass on the family lineage while protecting the family name. This proves that even though women's empowerment is an important subject in this era, people still do not believe in equality, due to the backward thinking of certain people around the world.

While it is often believed that such ill practices are largely part of the lower strata of society, shockingly there have been many revelations recently that even wealthy Indian couples are flocking to neighboring countries to know the gender of the fetus as it is illegal here in India. 

Causes of Female Foeticide

Even though Female Foeticide has been in practice for several years due to preference of a male child over female, not just financial but several social, emotional, and religious causes are the reason behind this heinous crime. However, certain beliefs of some families cannot be changed, but it is high time we showcase their ongoing crisis to lead a better future.  It is interesting to learn the reasons that lead to such a biased mindset. 

Some believe that boys are an investment while girls are economic drainers. 

They also believe that boys would grow the family’s lineage and would secure their parents’ future.

The girls are considered a liability, as they need to be married off with enormous dowry. 

Some believe that in a male-dominated society, it is easy to bring up a boy since the safety of the females is a big issue, and raising girls involves trouble. 

Poverty, illiteracy, and insecurity play a major role in this. 

In a male-dominated society, females are still considered subordinate and inferior to males.

Some backward families believe that having a boy child is going to uplift the status of the family. 

They can demand dowry in marriage from the bride’s family for their son.

This illegal practice has affected the scale of the population. According to the statistics of the General Office for Population Family Planning, the number of newborn boys and girls is unequal because of the discrimination of genders. Unfortunately, this situation has been persisting for over a very long time. The impacts of it on the population are rather huge. As per the report of the Ministry of Public Health, it is estimated that, despite the attempts to reduce the fluctuation between the birth of boys and girls, in 2020 there will be 4.3 million more men than women which might have huge repercussions.

Measures to Control

A lot of measures have been taken to fight against this illegal practice.

The government of India has initiated education and media advertisements to reach hospitals and clinics and medical professionals to increase awareness. 

The Indian Medical Association has shouldered efforts to prevent prenatal sex determination by promoting ‘Beti-Bachao’ during its meeting and conferences. 

The campaign of Beti-Bachao is initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise awareness of the gender disparities created and resulting from sex-selective abortion.

Some policies initiated by many states in India attempt to address the assumed economic disadvantage of girls by offering aids to girls and their parents. 

The dowry system, one of the main causes of Female Foeticide, should be abolished from society. 

Some policies provide scholarships and cash credits only to girls. 

Medical licenses must be terminated with immediate effect for the practitioners who are conducting Female Foeticide. 

The families who are forcing this act on their daughters-in-law should be penalized. 

Young women and girls should be empowered to stand for their rights. They should be self-reliant and become capable of making their decisions. 

Through a lot of awareness, consideration, and understanding, we can bring a shift in our beliefs and perceptions of society to give equal space to the girl child. Besides, there is no past, present, or future without a woman and female infanticide or Female Foeticide should be considered as suicide. If we do not make a change and secure the future of these girls now, then the consequences would be dangerous and there would be no coming back from that curse. So, a little change in our mindset and attitude is all that is needed to welcome daughters in our hearts and this world.

FAQs on Female Foeticide Essay

1. What is Female Foeticide?

Female foeticide is a medical procedure where a female fetus is aborted in the womb of the pregnant woman after identifying the gender of the fetus through ultrasound.

2. What are the Causes that Lead to Female Foeticide?

The causes that lead to female foeticide are poverty, illiteracy, etc. The downtrodden thoughts of some people who think that having a boy child would give them a status in society is another major cause of female foeticide. Some people hold the views that girls are consumers and boys are producers. They also believe that boys will carry on the name of the family and the lineage. Some also think that girls are a burden for the family, as they have to give dowry to get her married. Many also want a boy child so that they can demand dowry from the bride’s family. 

3. What Campaign did Narendra Modi Start?

Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi started the campaign of Beti-Bachao. The objective of this campaign was to raise awareness of the gender disparities creating and resulting from sex-selective abortion.

4. What Measures should the Government Take to Prevent Female Foeticide?

The government, with the help of the media, should create awareness of the disadvantages of this practice. Women and young girls should be empowered so that they become self-reliant and capable of making their own decisions. The families who force this evil act on their daughters-in-law and the medical practitioners should be penalized heavily. 

5. Is Female Foeticide a symptom of an underlying disease?

Yes, Female Foeticide is a malady and it is increasing, especially in rural areas, as families of these girls often perceive that having daughters is a liability and bearing them is economic stress on them. It further does not provide them with any social advantages, following which having a male child in the upcoming generation gives them a sense of advantage. Besides, this situation is quite clear from the declining sex ratio in several parts of the country, raising an alarm in the northern states.

6. Why are sons preferred in the country?

Sons are often looked up to as a type of insurance for the family and are expected to work and earn in the fields, look after their parents during times of distress, and have a good income to support the family. Sons are expected to have the responsibility of the family and preserve the family name. Moreover, in Hindu culture, for the salvation of the spirit, the son sets fire on the funeral pyre. Due to this strong preference for a male child, the life of daughters is getting endangered.

7. How to stop the cruel practice of Female Foeticide?

Keeping the Female Foeticide instances in mind, the government launched several campaigns to save the girl child while several NGOs are actively taking part in it to emphasize the seriousness of the issue. Moreover, the community leaders should also assure success in such campaigns as people need to believe that having a daughter is not a burden and killing them is punishable by the offense. Besides, it needs to be proven that women can achieve all the milestones a man does in every field.

8. How to curb easy access to ultrasonography?

The weak law enforcement in the country and easy access to people wanting to get ultrasonography to determine the gender of the child needs to halt while the government bodies need to a strict vision on all health care centres where sonography takes place and even the abortion clinic to avoid any mishap. Moreover, the doctors or healthcare employees should not promote the unethical way to help parents know the sex of the child as it is illegal and endangers the life of the child inside the womb.

9. What are the strategies to eliminate Female Foeticide?

Some of the strategies to eliminate Female Foeticide include empowerment and education of women while both the electronic and print media can play a significant role in curbing the crisis. Media can help in promoting the positive image of a girl child and remove the gender bias situations in the country. However, bringing such a change is not possible overnight, and changing people’s attitude towards women needs to be adopted by several. Besides, the elimination of gender disparities should be monitored by the high-level authorities. For more information and answers, check Vedantu for free study materials available on its app and website.