International Journal of Research in Social Sciences
Year : 2016, Volume : 6, Issue : 10
First page : ( 774) Last page : ( 783)
Online ISSN : 2249-2496.

Gender imbalance in India: Sex selective abortions and female discrimination

Laddunuri Madan Mohan

Presently unemployed, Department of Sociology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia (Former institution)

Online published on 19 November, 2016.

Abstract

India a diversifying country facing huge gender decline from past decades, especially women. India is one of the countries across the world which has the lowest and the declining gender ratio. It is 940 women against 1,000 men as per 2011 census. The total population of India crossed 1210 millions and male population 624 million while female, 586 million population. The shortfalls of women are 38 millions and it is considered huge gender gap. This trend shows the seriousness of the matter and it has rung alarm bells across the country in spite of higher levels of literacy and economic development. It is found that sex ratio has improved from 933 to 940 during the decade 2001–2011 for total population in national level while decreased the sex ratio from 927 to 914 for 0–6 age group child population. It is identified with continuance of female foeticide, infanticide as a result of inadequate nutrition, health care and neglect, female discrimination, high maternal and female mortality persists in India and worsen the sex ratio. The measures must be taken to improve the sex ratio by enacting and implementing strict laws to avoid the sex determination of the foetus and additionally to bring changes the mind-set constructed by the patriarchal values.

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Keywords

Sex Ratio, Sex Selective abortions, Female discrimination, Low status of women.

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