Christine Moon 

Using Immigration to Save India’s Female Annihilation

The world is currently trying to recover from an epidemic population catastrophe. With first-world nations suffering from a massive decline in population, they are under political and social fire as they are now attempting to undo damages that are threatening the future decades to come. Third-world nations are in critical condition as they are suffering from overpopulation. The poverty level and disease-ridden villages are high, and sanitation, clean water, and medical help are low. However, throughout all these existing issues, India, in particular, is being scrutinized for their declining sex ratio. India was the first country in the world to have a population policy. As the world’s second largest nation, it also falls in second place as the country with the second worst sex ratio in the world. In 2007, there were 927 girls born for every 1,000 boys. What is responsible for this disturbing trend? The practice of sex selective abortions (female “feticide”) and neglecting young girls (female “infantcide”) is putting the future wellbeing of India at total risk. A close analysis of India’s 2001 census has exposed an alarming secret: between 22 and 37 million females are missing from its population.

Culture and tradition are being held responsible for the skewed sex ration in India. For thousands of years, the preference for sons has been the golden key. Dr. Meeta Singh, a loyal member of IFES (International Foundation for Electoral Systems), writes in her article “The Rise of Sex Selection in India,” that these beliefs stem from a “variety of economic, sociological, and religious factors” (30). It is believed that families will benefit greatly from sons because they will “provide economic support for [their] parents in old age, carry the ‘good name’ of the family…and add status to the family” (30). A “woman’s status in her family is…tied to the number of sons she bears,” and traditionally, daughters are seen as a “social [and] economic liability” (30). The expense of a daughter’s wedding weighs heavily on a family, and it is “not uncommon for families to use their entire life savings or go into debt” (31).

The rapid development of technology and its spreading availability has also plagued India’s sex ratio. With ultrasounds within reach for pregnant mothers, parents can identify the sex of the unborn fetus within a few months. The average ultrasound fee in India is about 500 rupees, which is about $12 USD. The convenience of this has allowed sex-selection to run rampant as the aborting of female fetuses has increased drastically. Traditionally, sex-selection was more complicated since families did not know the sex of the baby until its birth. Normally, daughters would be neglected and deprived of “nutrition, healthcare, education, opportunities, love, and care” (31). Because the traditional method of sex-selection has been replaced by a “simpler, more accessible” technology, females are not being eliminated before they’re even born. In 2020, the government projects that there will be approximately 31 million excess men aged 15 to 35.

Though the troubling sex ratio is destructive to India politically and economically, the country will also be deeply affected sociologically. Research suggests that with far more men in the population, domestic and international violence can be triggered; men who are unable to find local wives may resort to kidnapping women from different countries; young girls may be subjected to sexual exploitation by their fathers and brothers; and, the shortage of brides may create pressure for girls to marry young (“child marriages”), which can lead to “earlier child birth and higher possibilities of maternal mortality” (32). Joseph D’Agostino writes in his article, “Feminism’s Triumph: Exterminating Girls” from Human Events, that outlawing sex-selection seems most ideal, but unfortunately, the government has admitted that there is “no way to enforce such a ban” (4). Carl Haub, a contributing writer for the Population Reference Bureau, explains that with the number of “young, unemployed, and frustrated men” on the rise, communities may suffer from “small-scale skirmishes [and] communal riots,” as “frustrated men are easily provoked and manipulated” (66).

Could, perhaps, immigration be the missing piece to solve this devastating puzzle? Many have hoped to involve immigrants and integrate them in the Indian community, hoping to increase the chances of marriage and children (without the sex-selection process). However, because tradition and culture stand in the way of inter-racial/inter-religious marriage, this idea may not be well received to those deeply ingrained in their roots. Many Indians believe that the possibility of bi-racial/bi-cultural children will ruin their ancestors’ tradition, and would potentially change India and its values forever. Others who responded to the idea of permanently relocating to India were reluctant to be open to the notion. They appear to be hesitant because of poor living conditions, the lack of medical facilities, and believe that they would not be able to sustain a good life there. There seems to be no real solution for this population chaos; however, with the influence of Western culture, India’s younger generation believes that sex-selection will become less popular and life will improve in the years to come. It appears that immigration is extremely vital to the survival of multiple nations all over the world. Without the mingling of people, population everywhere could suffer—not just India. What would be most difficult for everyone is to accept blended values and dreams, and new traditions in hopes of saving the old.

Works Cited

D’Agostino, Joseph. “Feminism’s Triumph: Exterminating Girls.” Human Events. 22 January 2007. 3-9. Print.

Haub, Carl. “Sex Ratio at Birth Begins to Improve in India?” Population Reference Bureau. 3 December 2008. 66-70. Print.

Latif, Iqbal. “Selective Elimination of Female Fetuses in India.” Global Politician. 2 September 2007. http://www.globalpolitician.com/23374-india. 30 Jun 2010. Web. 

Singh, Meeta. “The Rise of Sex Selection in India.” Beyond Democracy. Policies in Context: 2006. 30-33. Print.