Intense discrimination of the girl-child exists in a number of Asian countries. India, China and South Korea stand out particularly in matters of neglect and mistreatment of girls. In parts of India (mainly in the north) for example, daughters are seen as a liability rather than an asset, and many are aborted at birth or perish in early childhood. This is partly due to economic reasons. In Bombay, a large number of ultrasound clinics used the advertising slogan "spend 500 rupees now, save 500,000 rupees later". This of course, is in reference to the "dowry" system, an old tradition which, when a bride marries, her parents are expected

Cultural reasons for son preference are deeply rooted in Hindu and Confucian beliefs. In these heavily patriarchal Asian societies, the birth of a son is a cause for celebration, while the birth of a daughter is met with silence and shame. Sons have many benefits: carrying on of the family name, provide the income, provide efficient labor, honor one's ancestors after death, light the funeral pyre, and look after their parents in old age. Little wonder that this has been responsible for a skewed human sex ratio, with an average of 950 females to 1,000 males (the average worldwide is 106m/100f). In India, to prevent a lifelong "curse", newborn females are fed "paddy grain" and poisonous concoctions from plants resulting in their deaths. Girl-children are fed less, educated less (or not at all) and receive less-than-adequate healthcare than boys. A recent British documentary told of a phenomenon known as the "dying rooms" in China, where a disproportionate number of girls are unceremoniously dumped into dark, squalid orphanages, where they are tied to their beds and high-chairs without any care or attention given to them, and left to starve. Many young men in China are having trouble finding a wife due to the distorted sex ratio.

So much for equality, so much for trying.

to pay all wedding expenses. Parents are willing to abort a fetus

Some topics in this essay:
Hindu Confucian, South Korea, South Asia, , sex ratio, son preference, son preference exists, parents child, south korea, belief boys, preference exists,