Consequences of son preference in India: A contextual analysis of discrimination against daughters.

摘要

A combination of economic and cultural factors are presented as the basis for son preference in India and subsequently, selective neglect of daughters in the areas of nutrition, healthcare, and education. Multilevel analyses of several indicators of nutrition and healthcare of children below the age of three years are used to investigate the extent of gender discrimination and the impact of class, female status, religion, and context on gender bias. The analysis of educational discrimination is restricted to children between the ages of seven and eighteen, and follows a similar analytic method. The data are taken from the second Indian National Family Health Survey conducted in 1998--99.; The analysis of nutrition shows the existence of discrimination when the outcome is based on anthropometric data, rather than on mother's recall. Young girls have a lower, standardized weight-for-age than young boys, and are significantly more likely to suffer from malnutrition. Social class, and individual level female status variables moderate gender discrimination in incidence of malnutrition. Further, context influences gender discrimination. Communities with higher female status exhibit lower gender differentials in weight-for-age and incidence of malnutrition. Context also moderates the effect of the individual level moderators on gender discrimination.; The analysis of healthcare shows the existence of discrimination against female children with regard to healthcare practices. There is evidence of a gender bias against females in immunization coverage and medical treatment for fever or respiratory ailments. There is hardly any evidence of moderating effects of class, female status, or religion on gender discrimination in healthcare. There is some evidence that context influences the impact of individual level moderators.; Finally, there is evidence of gender discrimination against daughters in education. Nationally, girls have lower levels of education than boys in general and sisters have less education than brothers within families. Further, there is evidence of moderating effects from class, female status, religion, and context. Context exerts a strong influence on the gender differential. Communities and regions with higher female status exhibit greater egalitarianism with regard to their children's education. Context also impacts the manner in which the individual level moderators affect the gender differential.