i thought it only happens in the outskirts. but seeing it on CNN recently confirms that getting rid of baby girls is widespread even in the supposed 'modern' cities of India. there, it is indeed raining men!
i have an indian officemate who testifies to this. he's from kerala, a province in india. i've asked the same question with other indians i know. while some dismiss it as an 'urban legend and so yesterday', others confirm its existence upto now. do you know that ultrasound machines were prohibited in some areas so that the couple will not know the sex of the baby?
and if asked why is this practiced, i only get one answer on why it happens --- the dowry being paid on the wedding day is so high, that most have to start saving as soon as the baby is born! but an indian friend of mine who was born and raised here in dubai defied this tradition. he had an arranged marriage but he did not ask for dowry! very good indeed! very unstifling for the in-laws.
in ending, as Oprah commented (when she featured this is her show), "if it's gonna be all boys, i wonder how will more baby boys be conceived without a woman?" you really wonder how...
if there is dowry for the groom, i hope there is 'labor gifts' for the mothers --- i guess this will equalize everything!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment