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Gender-Biased Sex Selection in Asia: Motives, Methods, Magnitudes

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Gender-Biased Sex Selection in South Korea, India and Vietnam

Part of the book series: Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development ((DTSD,volume 11))

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Abstract

This chapter sets the scene by exploring the motives, methods and magnitudes of gender-biased sex selection (GBSS) drawing from socio-demographic and anthropological research. It starts out by discussing the motives (or reasons) behind GBSS, reviewing gender preferences, family structures, as well as fertility, economic, and political pressures to sex select. These factors are intricately connected. Son preference is ultimately rooted in patrilineal and patrilocal kinship systems, where assets are passed through the male line and sons reside with their parents in old age. Additional economic and political factors (such as major shifts in population policies, economic shocks and political instability) can also contribute to the existence of GBSS. The focus then turns to the different methods used by parents to influence the sex composition of their families and the evolution of these methods (or practices) over time. Special attention is given to female infanticide and neglect, continued child bearing, ultrasound in combination with selective abortions allowing couples to prenatally deselect daughters, and more advanced technologies such as preconception and pre-implementation sex selection. Finally, this chapter highlights the magnitudes (or outcome) of sex selection by giving an overview of affected countries, the number of missing women as well as long-term socio-demographic consequences of sex imbalances at birth.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In policy terms, it is important to study these coping mechanisms of couples that remain sonless, despite being exposed to sex selection pressure.

  2. 2.

    In Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Vietnam, only 2.0%, 2.5%, 1.6%, and 3.4% of women report to have daughter preference, respectively (Fuse 2008, p. 13).

  3. 3.

    Response biases can be caused by numerous factors ranging from the phrasing of survey questions to the desire to provide appropriate responses according to social norms or acceptability (Nederhof, 1985; Zhou, Wang, Zhou, & Hesketh, 2012).

  4. 4.

    According to Confucian belief, prevalent e.g. in China, South Korea and Vietnam, ancestor worship is traditionally conducted by males. The welfare and continuity of the family as a group is more important than the interests of any one individual. Also in Hindu tradition, special emphasis is placed on sons as they lite the funeral pyre of the deceased parents and sons continuing the family line.

  5. 5.

    Based on personal conversation with Emiko Ochiai, EHESS, 23.02.2016.

  6. 6.

    Similarly, sex ratios in South Korea have been particularly skewed towards males in the years of the Horse, Tiger and Dragon.

  7. 7.

    By 1976, broad parts of Asia with a few exceptions (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Japan and North Korea) had introduced policies to lower fertility. Direct government support for family planning programs had spread through almost all parts of Asia reaching out to lower socioeconomic levels of population (UNDESA, 2013).

  8. 8.

    According to Bongaarts (2013) SRLB is not a pure indicator of son preference because also access to contraception and overall fertility influence reproductive behavior.

  9. 9.

    E.g. the Indian and Vietnamese law allows induced abortions until 20 and 22 weeks of pregnancy respectively. Sex-selective abortions are, however, illegal in both countries.

  10. 10.

    According to Reuters the business of sex selection is estimated to be worth US$ 150 million in 2013, with a growing demand of about 20% per year (Kaye & Jittapong, 2014).

  11. 11.

    We describe here only broad trends. Important variations as per region, parity, socio-economic status, urban/rural residence, religion and ethnicity will be ignored. The evolution of SRB in India, South Korea and Vietnam will be discussed in detail in the three case studies.

  12. 12.

    According to media sources prices for brides range between US$ 88 to US$ 660 (BBC, 2006). Expert interviews conducted during field research in Delhi in 2014/2015 point to similar rates of US$ 500 for a bride coming from East India being purchased to Delhi.

  13. 13.

    Bilateral kinship systems as seen in Southeast Asia allow greater flexibility and permit closer ties of the bride with her natal family. Often also neolocal arrangements (in form of independent households) are being established, especially in East Asia (see Chap. 5).

  14. 14.

    Kawaguchi and Lee (2012) find that college-educated women in East Asia are significantly more likely to remain single than their non-college-educated counterparts.

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  1. Center for Population and Development, Paris, France

    Laura Rahm

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Rahm, L. (2020). Gender-Biased Sex Selection in Asia: Motives, Methods, Magnitudes. In: Gender-Biased Sex Selection in South Korea, India and Vietnam. Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20234-7_2

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