Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Causes of Son Preference in Rural Culture: A Sociological Study (In Reference of Jaunpur District)



Abstract
        It has been seen in numerous studies that most of Indian couples have a strong preference for sons over daughters. Sons are getting priority from the ancient period due to war and family responsibilities. According to mythology a son getting out his parents from the hell. In a rural community sons are preferred by their resources reasons. Some traditions and costumes are also responsible for making partiality between son and daughter for example dowry system can be mentioned. People think that if they get female issue their base honor will be decreased. Therefore they have just wished for son. In an effort to have sons, many couples continue to have children after achieving their desired family size. This practice may have retarded India’s fertility decline.
     Using data from National Family Health Survey, report assesses the prevalence of son preference in Indian social structure. The root level analysis is important because fertility levels, social and economic conditions, and the strength of son preference vary widely from one part of the society to another.
      The present research focuses on the issue of son preferences in rural area of Jaunpur district. It has been realized that women, constituting nearly half of the human population act as pervasive partners in conception bearing and rearing and thus in directly determining the quality and quantity of human population. They play key role in reproduction and production, formally and informally, and both visibly and invisibly. Despite of that, what factors are working behind the mentality of female foeticide and son preference is subject matter of this research paper.
Key Words: Son preference, Succession,
Dr Pawan K. Mishra
Assistant Professor, Industrial Sociology
Kanpur Institute of Technology
pkmkit@gmail.com


Rajesh K. Vishnoi
Lecturer, Sociology
RPP College
Ramabainagar
rajeshvishnoi77@gmil.com




















Introduction
            The preference for male children transcends many societies and cultures, making it an issue of local and global dimensions. While son preference is not a new phenomenon and has existed historically in many parts of Asia. According new studies commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), prenatal son selection in several Asian countries could result in severe social consequences – such as a surge in sexual violence and trafficking of women.   its contemporary expressions illustrate the gendered outcomes of social power relations as they interact and intersect with culture, economy and technologies. It has been seen in numerous studies that most of Indian couples have a strong preference for sons over daughters. Sons are getting priority from the ancient period due to war and family responsibilities. According to mythology a son getting out his parents from the hell. In a rural community sons are preferred by their resources reasons. Some traditions and costumes are also responsible for making partiality between son and daughter for example dowry system can be mentioned. People think that if they get female issue their base honor will be decreased. Therefore they have just wished for son. In an effort to have sons, many couples continue to have children after achieving their desired family size. 
Using data from National Family Health Survey, report assesses the prevalence of son preference in Indian social structure. The root level analysis is important because fertility levels, social and economic conditions, and the strength of son preference vary widely from one part of the society to another.
The present research focuses on the issue of son preferences in rural area of Jaunpur district. It has been realized that women, constituting nearly half of the human population act as pervasive partners in conception bearing and rearing and thus in directly determining the quality and quantity of human population. They play key role in reproduction and production, formally and informally, and both visibly and invisibly. Despite of that, what factors are working behind the mentality of female foeticide and son preference is subject matter of this research paper.
Sampling
For this purpose a small hamlet is selected named Umarpur by deliberately method of sampling. The population of this village 563 and total no of O.B.C. population is 204 and Schedule Class is 96.Present study is focused on the son preference in other backward class and scheduled class respondents.
Status of son preference:
For more than 100 years, the Indian census has shown a marked gap between the number of boys and girls, men and women. This gap, which has nationwide implications, is the result of decisions made at the most local level—the family. Common wisdom is that the preference for sons is motivated by economic, religious, social and emotional desires and norms that favor males and make females less desirable: Parents expect sons—but not daughters—to provide financial and emotional care, especially in their old age; sons add to family wealth and property while daughters drain it through dowries; sons continue the family lineage while daughters are married away to another household; sons perform important religious roles; and sons defend or exercise the family’s power while daughters have to be defended and protected, creating a perceived burden on the household.
Son preference is term of traditional Indian society. On the question of son preference respondents expressed their views and according their views a table have been formed by researchers.
Table 1.1 showing status of son preference




S.N.

Respondent

Equality

Percent
Non Equality

Percent

Total

Percent
1.
S.C.
23
(23.96%)
73
(76.04)
96
100%
2.
O.B.C.
35
(17.15%)
169
(82.84%)
204
100%
3.
Combined
58
(19.33%)
242
(80.67%)
300
100%

As above data indicate that more than 80.67 percent have partiality between son and daughter while 19.33 percent make no partiality between son and daughter. S.C. women, have more partiality problems.
Table 1.2 :  Reason behind son  preference

S.N.

Respondent

Succession

Economic help
Due to tradition

Could not say
Don't make partiality
1.
S.C. 96 (100%)
43
(44.79%)
17 (17.70%)
13(13.54%)
0
23
(23.95%)
2.
O.B.C. 204(100%)
92(45.04%)
37
(18.13%)
26 (12.74%)
14(8.86%)
35(17.15%)
3.
Combined 300 (100%)
135(45%)
54(18%)
39(13%)
14(4.67%)

58
(19.33%)

Respondents expressed reason behind son preference which are given following table. According to the data 45 percent respondents think that sons are necessary for succession while 18 percent for economic help. Due to tradition 13 percent women give opinion in favour of sons.
After the analysis it is found that succession point make Indian couple for having discriminating approach between son and daughter. Despite it economy and tradition are also big issue for son preference.
References :
1.Navtej K. Purewal(2010)Son Preference: Sex Selection, Gender and Culture in South Asia 1845204689
2.United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)2007 United Nations
3.Dorette Wesemann, Edited by Rangnar Mullr(2008), Traditional son preference, Amezen.
4. Rangamuthia Mutharayappa, Minja Kim Choe, Fred Arnold, and T. K. Roy(1997),National Family Health Survey Subject Reports.
5.Rohini Pande and Anju Malhotra(2006)ICRW, New Dehli.

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