The Impact of Son Preference on Fertility Dynamics and Gender Imbalance: A Focus on India

Abstract

Son preference significantly impacts fertility dynamics in many developing countries, notably in India, where it profoundly influences demographic trends, gender ratios, and socio-economic structures. Cultural norms and socio-economic factors drive this preference, with sons valued as carriers of family lineage and economic providers, while daughters are often perceived as financial burdens due to dowry practices. Consequently, families exhibit differential treatment of children, resort to selective abortion, and maintain higher fertility rates to ensure the birth of a male child. These practices lead to skewed sex ratios and contribute to socio-economic issues such as increased violence and trafficking of women. Despite government efforts like the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, the persistence of son preference poses a formidable challenge to demographic equilibrium and gender equality. This review examines the cultural and socio-economic drivers of son preference, its impact on fertility rates and gender ratios, policy interventions, and strategies to promote gender equality and mitigate its adverse effects, particularly in India.