The traditional and cultural preference for sons over daughters particularly in the Asian countries is causing massive gender ratio imbalances. It is an issue of concern as various social, economic and demographic indicators provide evidence of gender bias as well as deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination against women and girl children. Gender imbalance occurs as a consequence of war, female infanticide, sex selective abortions and governmental policy of one or two child norms. The problem of gender imbalance is not solely a rural issue as the newborn gender imbalance is raising its head in urban cities too. Modern technology like ultra sound test, amniocenteses etc., are adding to the gender imbalance though several countries have banned these tests to check on the destabilization of society.
The gender ratio imbalance would lead to shortage of brides, long distance cross culture marriages, kidnapping of women, practice of polyandry, violence against women and development of trafficking networks across domestic and international borders.
The book through its selected articles explores the causes and consequences of gender ratio imbalance. Different perspectives regarding the right for a girl child to live across various cross sections of countries have been examined. The governmental policy of one or two child norm and its impact on reducing the gender ratio imbalance has been highlighted. The book will be useful to NGOs, professionals working in the social development sector, policy planners, public administrators, social workers and other social scientists.
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