In 1881, the British noticed something strange in their first census of the Indian population. There were more men than women – despite the opposite being true globally. The cause for this was female infanticide. Less than a hundred years later, the same sex ratio skew was spotted, this time because of sex-selected abortion. What is happening now? What must be done to solve this issue? And is it impossible for India to truly let go of son preference?

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Sources:

The story of Lady Hao – From Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari

Communist China and one-child policy: https://rb.gy/6lzxiq

The history of female infanticide and sex-selected abortion in India: https://rb.gy/29mjma

British laws prohibiting infanticide: https://rb.gy/f38uyv

Uttarakhand - no girl born in 3 months in 132 villages: https://rb.gy/as24td

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: https://rb.gy/gaxkm1

India’s missing daughters: https://rb.gy/ss6wmv

Men being unable to find wives: https://rb.gy/8w6uum

Literacy and sex-selected abortion:https://rb.gy/pz7iya

South Korea World Bank analysis: https://rb.gy/m4mhnf

UNFPA on missing females: https://rb.gy/ymzxqe