The mania for sons: An analysis of social values in South Asia

Abstract

This paper describes a long tradition that values the birth of sons and devalues daughters in South Asia. The ultimate expression of this tradition was the widespread practice of female infanticide. We give data from the records of three hospitals in a large city in India that show the use of modern medical science to determine the sex of foetuses, and the selective abortion of female foetuses. We assert that this practice continues earlier practices of female infanticide, and expresses a mania for sons that afflicts the whole society.