1. Female Feticide In India Brianna Curry

2. Gendercide Infanticide has been practiced throughout the world for centuries Girls in India are discriminated against before they are even born India’s current ratio is 93 women to every 100 men

3. What is Female Feticide? Female feticide is “a practice that involves the detection and abortion of a female fetus due to the preference for male babies and from the low value associated with the birth of females. Detection -Ultrasound -Amniocentesis

4. Patriarchy Like many societies in the world, India is patrilineal Men held high positions in the community and made all of the decisions Women were inferior to men Women in India have traditionally been discriminated against before birth, after birth, during their marriage, and as widows

5. Dowry System in India In India, a dowry is the payment of some sort, either in the form of gifts, animals, or money The bride and her family are expected to provide the groom with the dowry Families in poverty will spend all of their lives preparing for a dowry

6. Why is Feticide Being Practiced in India ECONOMICS Dowry The son takes care of his parents in their old age, not the daughter

7. State’s Response The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act Abortion is legal if: the mother’s life is at risk due to complications with the pregnancy - the child is at risk of being born with a disability or other dangers - if the mother was raped and as a consequence, becomes pregnant, -if the woman wishes to keep her family small If someone commits female feticide, they can be fined and serve up to two years in prison

8. Limitations of India’s Legal System Lack of enforcement There are thousands of cases of feticide in India, yet very few cases are prosecuted. Feticide is “too lucrative”

9. The People Respond Many organizations have been created to combat both infanticide and feticide. The international community as well as nongovernmental organizations have increased their efforts for fighting for the rights of young women in India Adoption Cradle Baby Scheme

10. References Ahmad, Nehaluddin. “Female Feticide in India.” Issues in Law & Medicine. Summer2010, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p13-29.