Value Of Female Children
In many cultures boys have been favored over girls. Boys are desired for religious or cultural reasons, they can carry on the family name, inherit property and provide support for aged parents. Having a son means that the family does not have to give a dowry but rather to receive one, making the family financially more secure. Also in many countries (including the UK until the last century) there is a discrimination against women inheriting property and owning land. It is believed that in China, the one child only policy in families led to selected female infanticide in thousands of women.
A distorted sex ratio where there is a higher percentage of boys in comparison to girls, indicated a sex selective abortion or female infanticide. In many countries there are specific laws against sex selective abortion and of course female infanticide, however these are not always followed.
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