Missing Daughters: Socio-economic and Cultural Dynamics of Adverse Child Sex Ratio in Haryana (India)

Abstract

Serious concerns have been raised by academicians, social activists, legislators, planners and charitable organizations in view of substantial drop in the child sex ratio of Haryana. The purpose of this study, which was conducted in response to this concern, is to learn how rural people perceive male and female children, the various factors that affect this perception, prenatal sex determination and female foeticide. The study investigates numerous historical, economical, social and cultural elements that have contributed to making the position of girls vulnerable in society beginning with a situational analysis of the sex ratio in the state of Haryana. The findings revealed that the two factors that lead to the perception of daughters being a burden were socio-cultural norms and daughters seen as a liability.