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A short class with Sarah and her students. The other ways are under More.
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Let’s talk about how families decide where to invest their resources. What beliefs influence these decisions?
I think families believe that boys will take care of them when they get old.
Exactly! This belief leads to parents prioritizing education and resources for male children. This phenomenon can be remembered with the acronym 'BOYS' which stands for 'Burden on Your shoulders (for parents in old age)'.
But what about girls? Don’t they have potential too?
Good point! However, many families see girls as future brides who will contribute to another family. Thus, they invest less in them.
Despite the biological facts that females have better survival statistics at birth, there is a disparity in infant mortality rates. Why do you think that is?
Maybe because they are not valued as much?
Spot on! In some regions of India, cultural practices lead to higher mortality rates for girls due to neglect or lack of medical care. This situation can be summarized with the phrase, 'Girls are often sidelined'.
That’s really sad. How can families change this?
It requires cultural shifts and awareness about the value of girls in society.
How do these beliefs about gender affect society over time?
It probably results in a smaller workforce of trained women.
Exactly! This contributes to economic issues and limits women's roles in society. A mnemonic you can keep in mind is 'LESS' - which stands for 'Limited Employment for Social Success'!
What can be done to address these issues?
Education and public awareness campaigns to demonstrate the importance and capabilities of girls can foster change.
Boys will stay, girls will go, that’s the thought that many know.
Once there was a village where boys were the kings and girls were just pawns in the family game. This led to many girls not receiving the education they deserved, highlighting the need for change.
BOYS - 'Burden On Your Shoulders' for male children's expectations.
LESS - 'Limited Employment for Social Success' as an indicator of societal imbalance.
Term
What is gender bias?
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Why are female infants more likely to die?
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The family structure is influenced by gender-based expectations, leading to differing levels of investment in male and female children.
Gender biases in familial structures, particularly in investment in education and resources, manifest through the belief that male children will support parents in old age while female children will leave upon marriage. This results in higher mortality rates for female infants despite their greater biological survival potential.
In this section, we explore the deeply ingrained gender expectations surrounding family dynamics, especially in parts of India. The traditional belief that male children are expected to provide financial support for their parents in old age, while female children are seen as temporary members of the family who will leave upon marriage, leads families to prioritize the investment in male children over female ones. Despite evidence indicating that female infants have better survival rates compared with male infants, the contrasting social values contribute to a higher rate of infant mortality among female children in lower age groups.