THE ISSUE
What is Gendercide?
Gendercide is the death of females worldwide due to:
-
sex-selective abortion to favor boys over girls
-
female infanticide
-
gross neglect of young girls
-
entirely preventable maternal death
-
inability of older women to access food & shelter
-
socially sanctioned violence against women
Where is Gendercide prevalent?
Female gendercide is predominantly prevalent in South and East Asian countries, particularly India and China, which are two of the world's most populous countries. It is also seen in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cyprus, and Qatar; in Albania and Liechtenstein in Eastern Europe; the post-Soviet countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia; as well as countries on the African continent including Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, and Tunisia. The problem has insidiously infiltrated to the western nations of the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States because global immigration has brought cultural preferences for a male child across the globe.
Male Female Sex Ratios
Female gendercide can be viewed from the lens of sex ratios at birth (SRB). This is the number of boys born versus the number of girls born in a given period. The norm is about 105 boys to every 100 girls according to the WHO. However, in many Asian countries, the SRB's have climbed as high as 130 boys per 100 girls indicating that sex selective abortions are taking place. Unnaturally high SRB's are also being noted among 2nd and 3rd born children, reaching as high as 165 boys per 100 girls. Gendercide can also be viewed from the lens of male to female sex ratios in society. In India and China, the effects show up most starkly because of huge populations and sex ratios have fallen as low as 850 girls for 1000 boys.There is a serious female deficit and almost 80 million extra men.
"The day must come when women are recognized as peers, not only at the fireside, but in councils of nations. Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, and the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race."
Susan B. Anthony
