As gender inequality we can see everywhere and the basic preference that is given to male child over female child is deeply entrenched in India. What is the reason, are daughters harder to raise than sons? If not then why is society biased more towards so called sons. Why is there a thought process that girls are financial burden to the family.
By: Sadaf Khanday
As gender inequality we can see everywhere and the basic preference that is given to male child over female child is deeply entrenched in India. What is the reason, are daughters harder to raise than sons? If not then why is society biased more towards so called sons. Why is there a thought process that girls are financial burden to the family.
As per national statistics, the national average is 917 girls for 1000 males. In some villages the ratio is more skewed to as much as 500 females for 1000 males. Not only this there are certain villages where girls have not born in the last 10 years , reason is only female foeticide, although it is illegal but many people continue to practice it. Practice of female infanticide is also common where a girl child once born is embraced to death.
In a study it was revealed that girls are more talented than boys by 11% but still parents have high expectations from their sons. Again a big WHY?? Despite numerous schemes and slogans for girls like BETI BACHAO BETI PADHAO, SELIE WITH DAUGHTER, that fondness for sons is stronger in India. Boys are always seen as investment and girls as liability. This left out feeling may kill a girl inside but still she wears that smile on her face trying to please everyone by her acts be it cooking delicious food or doing household activities.
We must speak out in favor of gender equality, steps should be taken for improving status of girls. Girl child is not a burden but a blessing , our society itself has associated daughters to be burden from the time they are born to when they are married. We can’t tackle the issue of female infanticide until we tackle it’s root cause first that is the very idea that a girl child is a blessing and not the opposite as so many people think. Girls are always targeted and made fun of but dear society the attention you have focused onto daughters should be diverted towards sons, so that they are aware of the respect that woman should be accorded her rightful place in the family.
Our religion Islam teaches us that the reward for giving birth to a daughter and bringing her up is paradise. The history of life of PROPHET MOHAMMAD (P.B.U.H) shows only tolerance and respect towards women. Then why did so many people despise the idea of having a female child?
Let us preach message of Islam to all, stop being biased between male and female child, stop torturing her by saying that she is guest in her own house, stop pointing out a daughter if she is trying to work side by side to compete in society, there is not any work that is labeled for sons only, daughters too show enthusiasm towards every damn work. If certain negative elements are removed from the society then only a daughter can bloom.
Author hails from Awantipora, Pulwama of South Kashmir presently pursuing phD in management from DBU Punjab. interest.
