Children in India By: Madison Bell, Kaila Eudy, Erin Linthicum, Amy Staton, Kirsten Bost, Alei Fortin, and Courtney Barber

Question 1 - Alei  Why is a male child considered an asset to the Indian family? Find another culture where male children are welcomed as opposed to female children.

Answer:  In some parts of India, greeting of a newborn girl is “the servant of your household has been born.”  Males are important because they inherit dads land and home.  Female children are aborted or disposed of after birth.  Son support family forever; daughters usually marry into a different family.  2005 ratio  India – 93 girls 100 boys  China – 100 girls 117 boys  Males bring more money to family  Female child was once born, then doctor broke her neck and the body was thrown into trash can

Question 2 - Erin  Why is a female child considered to be a liability to the family in India?

Answer:  Both cultures (India and China) also count on their sons to care for their aged. Daughters marry out and are no longer members of their families of origin. For this reason, daughters are considered more a liability than a blessing.

Question 3 - Kirsten  What happens in rural Indian society if they are not able to have children?

Answer:  In developing countries, where infertility is a personal failing, or even a curse, a woman who can’t conceive may face devastating ostracism  Ostracism means being excluded, by general consent, from social acceptance, privileges, friendships, etc.  Infertility – consequences include ostracism, physical abuse, even suicide  It is said that infertile women are treated like dogs because motherhood is the only thing they have since they are uneducated  Considered bad luck and other women stay away from them because they are afraid of becoming infertile too  Women often take the blame even if the man is the problem.

Question 4 - Kaila  What is the naming ceremony in the Hindu religion? What events happen at this ceremony?

Answer:  The ceremony of naming a baby is called the Namakaran ceremony  It creates a special bond between the child and the family  It is usually held on the 12 th day after birth  The mother is specially honored because she brought the baby into the world  Relatives and guests bless the child and offer gifts to the child and the family  The blessings say the child should grow into being a great person like his renowned forefathers  It is held in either the home or a temple  The baby is placed in the father’s lap to be blessed and then he whispers the chosen Hindu name in the child’s right ear  After friends and relatives come to bless the child and put honey or sugar to its lips.

Question 5 - Courtney  Why are children important in an agricultural society?

Answer:  Children are important to an agricultural society because they help with the work on the farm. They also save money because the more children that the family has the less farm workers the family has to hire and pay. Children are also important because once their parents can no longer care for the farm, one or all of the children can take over. In some countries children are important to this society because child labor is legal and it brings money for their family.

Question 6 – Amy  Explain how other countries/ cultures celebrate when a child is born.

Answer:  China – proud parents hold a “Red egg and Ginger party”. Eggs are a symbol of fertility. An even number of eggs means a girl was born and an odd number means a boy was born.  Muslims – They celebrate within. They say the Adhan. Some families take the child to a prophet. Others celebrate with the Aqeeqah ceremony by shaving the newborn’s hair and sacrificing an animal.