Gender Selective Abortions

[ls317]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5293148


The medical journal The Lancet, reports that there have been 10 million "missing female births" in India in the past 20 years. By "missing," that means females who were aborted. Activists are trying to stop the practice, which is as prevalent in wealthy areas as it is in poor areas.

[anitar1]

1. india may find itself in the same position as China did.

So many females aborted, that eventually men could not find mates. If I recall, China outlawed the practice.Who will take care of the old folks if the daughters are not born? Doesn't this say something about the stupidity of humans?

[ls317]

2. Damn

I heard this story on NPR today I was sick to my stomach and my heart hurt.It was very unsettling to say the least. Damn someone has to step in address this issue for the sake of the kids.

[pitohui]

4. why can't the mothers be trusted to make this decision?

i daresay if i were a mother in some situations in india or china i would not necessarily choose to bring another young girl into that life when the young boy would at least have a chance

[Warpy]

6. More often you'd be under extreme pressure from your husband's

parents to abort the daughter in the hope of a son later on.

Daughters leave the family and in most countries, require a dowry. Sons stay home and bring their wives into the family. If the males married off rather than on, there would be less of a problem with sex preference, and that is in fact how it is in matrilocal tribes in the US.

[pitohui]

3. maybe the sons can do that

men still have a much greater earning expectancy, let them pay to take care of the old folks

Who will take care of the old folks if the daughters are not born? Doesn't this say something about the stupidity of humans?

well, if it says that parents would rather have a child who has a chance to be something besides the crazy lady in the attic stuck w. taking care of the old folks instead of having a family or career of her own...maybe the parents made the right choice

if society values women so damn much, why are still making 74 cents on the dollar or whatever the current figure is?

as a woman i don't happen to have any special talent for caring for old folks, in fact, i have less ability to lift and change the diaper of some older person with alzheimer's, i simply ain't got the physical strength

[Warpy]

5. Chinese families always thought their sons would care for them

even though it was the often despised daughter in law who did all the work.

Now they're seeing just how useful unmarried males are in that department.

The Chinese factory system with its dormitory living and regimentation has helped them cope with the huge population of surplus males, who can live better than they did on the impoverished farm and still manage to send money home to aged parents. It looks like a baby step away from prison labor to us, but it suits them, at least temporarily.