Marie-Claire Robitaille (University of Nottingham Ningbo China)

"Sex-Selective Abortions and Infant Mortality in India: The Role of Parents' Stated Son Preference"

with Ishita Chatterjee

Abstract

Strong preference for sons in India has resulted in millions of female foeticide and abnormally high mortality rate of infant girls over the last three decades. Though studies exist on the causes of son preference, little is known on how sex-selective decisions are made. This paper examines the motivations of mothers and fathers and their respective roles in the decision to sex-selectively abort or neglect girls. We show that while the motivation behind son preference varies across genders, marriage aligns among spouses the levels of and also the motivations for stated son preference. In particular, it is shown that spouse's preference is the most signi cant determinant of stated son preference. Despite the alignment, some couples express diverging son preference. While sex-selective abortion services are most commonly used by couples and men preferring sons, sex-selective neglect of infant girls is used as a strategy by mothers to achieve their desired sex-ratio.