Abstract
The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has experienced a dramatic decline in fertility, accompanied by a trend of increased son preference. This paper reports on findings from qualitative interviews with women in rural villages about their fertility decision-making. Specifically addressed are the reasons behind increasing son preference and the consequences of this change. Findings suggest that daughter aversion, fuelled primarily by the perceived economic burden of daughters due to the proliferation of dowry, is playing a larger role in fertility decision-making than son preference. The desire for a son is often trumped by the worry over having many daughters. Women use various means of controlling the sex of their children, which in this study appear to be primarily female infanticide. It is important to distinguish between son preference and daughter aversion and to examine repercussions of low fertility within this setting.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 697-708 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Culture, Health and Sexuality |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 10 2008 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Health(social science)
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
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'Too many girls, too much dowry' : Son preference and daughter aversion in rural Tamil Nadu, India. / Diamond-Smith, Nadia; Luke, Nancy Kay; McGarvey, Stephen.
In: Culture, Health and Sexuality, Vol. 10, No. 7, 10.10.2008, p. 697-708.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - 'Too many girls, too much dowry'
T2 - Son preference and daughter aversion in rural Tamil Nadu, India
AU - Diamond-Smith, Nadia
AU - Luke, Nancy Kay
AU - McGarvey, Stephen
PY - 2008/10/10
Y1 - 2008/10/10
N2 - The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has experienced a dramatic decline in fertility, accompanied by a trend of increased son preference. This paper reports on findings from qualitative interviews with women in rural villages about their fertility decision-making. Specifically addressed are the reasons behind increasing son preference and the consequences of this change. Findings suggest that daughter aversion, fuelled primarily by the perceived economic burden of daughters due to the proliferation of dowry, is playing a larger role in fertility decision-making than son preference. The desire for a son is often trumped by the worry over having many daughters. Women use various means of controlling the sex of their children, which in this study appear to be primarily female infanticide. It is important to distinguish between son preference and daughter aversion and to examine repercussions of low fertility within this setting.
AB - The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has experienced a dramatic decline in fertility, accompanied by a trend of increased son preference. This paper reports on findings from qualitative interviews with women in rural villages about their fertility decision-making. Specifically addressed are the reasons behind increasing son preference and the consequences of this change. Findings suggest that daughter aversion, fuelled primarily by the perceived economic burden of daughters due to the proliferation of dowry, is playing a larger role in fertility decision-making than son preference. The desire for a son is often trumped by the worry over having many daughters. Women use various means of controlling the sex of their children, which in this study appear to be primarily female infanticide. It is important to distinguish between son preference and daughter aversion and to examine repercussions of low fertility within this setting.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=53249128988&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=53249128988&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13691050802061665
DO - 10.1080/13691050802061665
M3 - Article
C2 - 18821352
AN - SCOPUS:53249128988
VL - 10
SP - 697
EP - 708
JO - Culture, Health and Sexuality
JF - Culture, Health and Sexuality
SN - 1369-1058
IS - 7
ER -