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Prejudice against female children: economic and cultural explanations, and Indian evidence

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  • Clem Tisdell
  • Gopal Regmi

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose is to outline and illustrate the economic theory of parental self‐interest and its implications for the entitlements of children according to their gender, and using empirical data, to determine the extent to which the theory is reflected in discrimination of parents against female siblings in different communities in eastern India. Design/methodology/approach - Using economic analysis, this paper outlines and illustrates the basis of the economics of parental discrimination against female children and structured questionnaires are used to collect data from village rural wives in the Santal tribal belt of West Bengal and in Orissa in Kondh‐dominated village to determine the extent to which economics explains parental discrimination between daughters and sons. The selection of the areas has been done on the basis that their different cultural dimensions may affect parental attitudes to female children. The statistical significance of differences in responses between the West Bengal sample and that from Orissa is tested using the chi‐squared test. Implications of the results for theory of parental discrimination between siblings according to their gender are outlined. Findings - It is found that parental discrimination in favour of boys and against girls is much more marked in the Santal‐dominated belt of West Bengal than in the Kondh‐dominated villages of Orissa, where it is absent or virtually so. This is the case despite similar economic conditions and the fact that all the sampled villagers are relatively poor. Differences in cultural values seem to explain the difference. Research limitations/implications - Results could be strengthened by using a similar questionnaire to survey wives in additional villages in the Santal tribal‐belt of West Bengal and in more Kondh‐dominated villages in Orissa, as well as in other cultural contexts. Furthermore, families in these areas are patriarchal. It would be interesting to obtain results also from Indian communities that have matriarchal families as in parts of Meghalaya. Originality/value - The findings support the view that the behaviour of parents towards children (according to their gender or otherwise) is a combined result of personal parental goals, social structures and cultural values. Economic theories of the family are likely to be too narrow and may be misleading in their predictions unless they take into account the institutional and cultural contexts in which families exist.

Suggested Citation

  • Clem Tisdell & Gopal Regmi, 2005. "Prejudice against female children: economic and cultural explanations, and Indian evidence," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 32(6), pages 541-553, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijsepp:03068290510597014
    DOI: 10.1108/03068290510597014
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    1. Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "Globalisation, Development and Poverty in the Pacific Islands: The Situation of the Least Developed Pacific Island Nations," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100208, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    2. Tisdell, Clement A. & Roy, Kartik C. & Ghose, Ananda, 2002. "A Report on Socioeconomic Attributes and Gender Inequality in Kondh-Dominated Villages: A Comparative Analysis of Tribals and Non-Tribals in the Phulbani District, Orissa, India," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100213, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    3. Tisdell, Clement A., 2000. "The Development of the Solomon Islands: An Analysis of Trends, Issues and Policies," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100033, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    4. Tisdell, Clement A., 2000. "The Development of Kiribati: An Analysis of Trends, Issues and Policies," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100031, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    5. Tisdell, Clement A. & Roy, Kartik C. & Regmi, Gopal, 2000. "Socioeconomic Determinants of the Intra-family Status of Wives in Rural India: Analysis and Empirical Evidence," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100206, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    6. Tisdell, Clement A., 2000. "Gender Inequality in India: Evidence from a Rural Survey in West Bengal," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100037, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    7. Tisdell, Clement A., 1999. "Poverty and Economically Deprived Women and Children: Theories, Emerging Policy Issues and Development," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 90632, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    8. Kiriti, Tabitha & Tisdell, Clement A., 2002. "Gender, Marital Status, Farm Size and other Factors Influencing the Extent of Cash Cropping in Kenya: A Case Study," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 102261, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    9. Kiriti, Tabitha & Tisdell, Clement A., 2001. "Migration of Husbands, Remittances and Agricultural Production: Impacts when Wives Head Households in Rural Kenya," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100211, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    10. Tisdell, Clement A., 2000. "The Development of Samoa: An Analysis of Trends, Issues and Policies," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100032, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    11. Tisdell, Clement A. & Roy, Kartik C., 2000. "The Socio-Economics of Gender Issues in Rural India: Results of Interviews in Three Villages and a Forest Meeting in Eastern India," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100030, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    12. Tisdell, Clement A. & Roy, Kartik C. & Ghose, Ananda, 2001. "Villagers and the Use and Conservation of Indian Forests: The Role of Joint Forest Management," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100207, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    13. Tisdell, Clement A., 2000. "The Development of Vanuatu: An Analysis of Trends, Issues and Policies," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100035, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    14. Tisdell, Clement A., 2000. "The Development of Tuvalu: An Analysis of Trends, Issues and Policies," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100034, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    15. Tisdell, Clement A. & Regmi, Gopal, 2000. "Push-and-Pull Migration and Satisficing versus Optimising Migratory Behaviour: A Review and Nepalese Evidence," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100205, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    16. Tabitha W. Kiriti, Clem Tisdell, Kartik C. Roy, 2003. "Female participation in decision making in agricultural households in Kenya: empirical findings," International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 2(2), pages 103-124.
    17. Tisdell, Clement A. & Roy, Kartik C. & Ghose, Ananda, 2002. "Economic Theories of the Family and Discrimination in a Social Context: Entitlements of Kondh Tribal Females in India," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100214, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    18. Tisdell, Clement A., 2000. "Sustainable Development and Human Resource Capital," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 100036, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    19. Tisdell, Clement A. & Roy, Kartik C. & Ghose, Ananda, 1999. "Sen's Theory of Entitlement and the Deprivation of Females: An Assessment with Indian Illustrations," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 91375, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
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    1. Kiriti, Tabitha & Tisdell, Clement A., 2003. "Gender Inequality, Poverty and Human Development in Kenya: Main Indicators, Trends and Limitations," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 105587, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    2. Clement Allan Tisdell & Serge Svizzero, 2015. "The Malthusian Trap and Development in Pre-Industrial Societies: A View Differing from the Standard One," Working Papers hal-02152050, HAL.
    3. Mohammad, Hossain & Tisdell, Clement A., 2003. "Closing the Gender Gap in Bangladesh: Inequality in Education, Employment and Earnings," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 106948, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    4. Tisdell, Clement A. & Regmi, Gopal, 2004. "Economic Social and Cultural Influences on the Status and Wellbeing of Indian Rural Wives," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 106952, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    5. Tabitha W. Kiriti & Clem Tisdell, 2005. "Family size, economics and child gender preference: a case study in the Nyeri district of Kenya," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 32(6), pages 492-509, June.
    6. Kiriti, Tabitha & Tisdell, Clement A., 2003. "The Relationship between Commercial Agriculture and Food Availability to Kenyan Farm Families: A Case Study," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 105585, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    7. Kiriti, Tabitha & Tisdell, Clement A., 2003. "Marital Status, Farm Size and other Influences On the Extent of Cash Cropping in Kenya: A Household Case Study," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 105586, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    8. Mohammad, Hossain & Tisdell, Clement A., 2003. "Major Demographic Changes in Bangladesh and their Socio-economic Correlates: Analysis of Trends," Social Economics, Policy and Development Working Papers 106950, University of Queensland, School of Economics.

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