Opinion on having sons or daughters India 2020, by education level

According to a survey carried out from 2019 to 2020 in India, 94 percent of college graduates felt that having at least one son in the family was more important than having at least one daughter. Similarly, 93 percent of less than college graduates felt that having at least one son was more important than having a daughter.

Motives for preference of a son

Even though the country’s sex ratio reflects an improvement compared to a few years ago, an overwhelmingly large portion of the population desires a male child in the family. The traditional belief that the son would carry on the family’s name is one of the few main reasons behind this preference for a son. Customarily, it would also be the sons who eventually are obliged to take care of their parents in old age. They are also considered the primary breadwinners of the family. The daughters, on the other hand, are expected to leave the family and join their matrimonial home. At the time of marriage, the bride’s parents are obliged to pay a dowry to the groom’s family, which is generally a financial burden for a majority of the rural population in India.

Female infanticide

Sex-selective abortions and female feticide are rooted in patriarchy, where the male child is given more privilege than a female child. For instance, more money is spent on the male child’s education so that he secures a good job and can then provide for the family. While abortions are legal, sex-selective abortions are illegal in India. However, female feticide is rampant across the country, and the number of illegal abortions surpasses the number of legal abortions.