Son-Meta Preference in 21st century in Indian...

Son-Meta Preference in 21st century in Indian Society

Author Name : Neharika Sharma

ABSTRACT

Children are our future. In several countries, parents' wish to have at least one son -son preference- can lower the chances of daughters being born. Gender inequality is present all over the world; however the basic preference for a male child over a female one is deeply entrenched in India. India is culturally and religiously a very rich country and originator of some of the world’s religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Indians worship several forms of female deities like Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati etc. However, the contradictory element lies in the mindset of some Indians who is spite of worshipping the divine female deities show an aversion towards the woman in their own lives. Many of them continue to see boys as an investment and girls a liability. A plethora of social, cultural, and economic factors contribute to this trend.

Keywords: - Preference, Liability, Deities, Gender Inequality.