Selective female abortion, a curse that undermines the world’s population
In less than 30 years, there will be 20 per cent more males than females. In Asia, the greatest unbalance is in China with 130-150 males per females. In India, the ratio is 110-120 to 100. Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea follow.
Rome (AsiaNews) – Selective abortions are a worldwide phenomenon that is changing the make-up of the human population, this according to estimates by the United Nations Population Division (UNPD) and the US Census Bureau’s International Programs Center (IPC), the two major organisations charged with tracking and projecting global population trends.
In Asia, India and China lead the way in foeticide and female infanticide with a sex ratio at birth (SRB) of 120 (120 baby boys for 100 baby girls). For experts, the usual average SRB should be around 105.
Evidence suggests that the unbalance also affects Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The rise in unnatural SRBs was first observed in China where the authorities have implemented a ‘one-child’ policy (two for rural families) since 1979. The latter imposes fines and other repressive measures on violators.
In just a few years, the effects were visible. In 1982, China’s SRB stood at 108. In 1990, it was 111.14. In 1995, it reached 115.6, 117 in 1999 and 118.9 in 2005. Since then, it has risen further, reaching 130 and 140 in some areas. In a few regions, it is even topped 150.
This is having serious effects. If in 2000, nearly all males (about 96 per cent) were married by their early 40s, by 2040, 23 per cent are projected to never marry.
Foeticide and female infanticides are also widespread in India, Asia’s third largest economy and the world’s biggest democracy.
Gender imbalances are most extreme in the northwest (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Hymanachal Pradesh), where the sex ratio for ages 0-6 is now close to 120, or higher. In the capital New Delhi, the sex ratio is around115.
For Asia’s ‘small dragons’, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, the SRB varies from 107 (Singapore) to 109-110 (Hong Kong and Taiwan).
According to a study by Daniel Goodkind, Child underreporting, fertility, and sex ratio imbalance in China, South Korea is an anomaly. After reaching 115 boys per 100 girls in 1994-1996, the sex ratio fell back to 107 today.
The evidence, however, suggests that South Korea’s SRB reversal was influenced less by government policy than by civil society, more specifically, by a spontaneous and largely uncoordinated mass movement that sought to honour, protect and prize daughters.
Although not as serious, an unbalanced SRB is found in the Philippines (109), Bangladesh (108), Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and the Middle East (averaging107).
In Asia, India and China lead the way in foeticide and female infanticide with a sex ratio at birth (SRB) of 120 (120 baby boys for 100 baby girls). For experts, the usual average SRB should be around 105.
Evidence suggests that the unbalance also affects Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The rise in unnatural SRBs was first observed in China where the authorities have implemented a ‘one-child’ policy (two for rural families) since 1979. The latter imposes fines and other repressive measures on violators.
In just a few years, the effects were visible. In 1982, China’s SRB stood at 108. In 1990, it was 111.14. In 1995, it reached 115.6, 117 in 1999 and 118.9 in 2005. Since then, it has risen further, reaching 130 and 140 in some areas. In a few regions, it is even topped 150.
This is having serious effects. If in 2000, nearly all males (about 96 per cent) were married by their early 40s, by 2040, 23 per cent are projected to never marry.
Foeticide and female infanticides are also widespread in India, Asia’s third largest economy and the world’s biggest democracy.
Gender imbalances are most extreme in the northwest (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Hymanachal Pradesh), where the sex ratio for ages 0-6 is now close to 120, or higher. In the capital New Delhi, the sex ratio is around115.
For Asia’s ‘small dragons’, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, the SRB varies from 107 (Singapore) to 109-110 (Hong Kong and Taiwan).
According to a study by Daniel Goodkind, Child underreporting, fertility, and sex ratio imbalance in China, South Korea is an anomaly. After reaching 115 boys per 100 girls in 1994-1996, the sex ratio fell back to 107 today.
The evidence, however, suggests that South Korea’s SRB reversal was influenced less by government policy than by civil society, more specifically, by a spontaneous and largely uncoordinated mass movement that sought to honour, protect and prize daughters.
Although not as serious, an unbalanced SRB is found in the Philippines (109), Bangladesh (108), Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and the Middle East (averaging107).
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