Q. "The battle against sex selection is ultimately a battle against patriarchal social values." Analyse the statement in the context of...

Q. "The battle against sex selection is ultimately a battle against patriarchal social values." Analyse the statement in the context of contemporary India. (15 marks 250 words)

Question

Q."The battle against sex selection is ultimately a battle against patriarchal social values." Analyse the statement in the context of contemporary India. (15 marks 250 words)

Model Answer

Q."The battle against sex selection is ultimately a battle against patriarchal social values." Analyse the statement in the context of contemporary India. (15 marks 250 words)

Paper

GS I

Subject

Indian Society

Syllabus as Per Notification

Role of women and women's organisations, Social empowerment, Population and associated issues.

Topic

Sex Selection, Female Foeticide, PCPNDT Act, Gender Discrimination, Patriarchy and Women Empowerment

Approach:

Introduction

Define sex selection and mention its adverse impact on the child sex ratio and gender equality.

Establish the argument that the issue is rooted in patriarchal social values rather than merely legal non-compliance.

Body

Analyse how patriarchy manifests through son preference, economic valuation of sons, discrimination against daughters, misuse of technology and skewed sex-ratio trends.

Examine why legal measures alone are insufficient and discuss measures involving legal enforcement, social transformation, women's empowerment and behavioural change.

Conclusion

Reiterate that sex selection is a manifestation of entrenched patriarchy and structural gender inequality.

Conclude with the vision of a society where the birth of a girl child is celebrated with equal dignity, opportunity and acceptance.

Introduction

Sex selection refers to the practice of choosing the sex of a child before or during pregnancy, often resulting in female foeticide. Despite legal safeguards such as the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, the Supreme Court (2026) observed that "deep-seated patriarchal preferences towards a male child" continue to drive sex-selection practices, indicating that the issue is fundamentally social rather than merely legal.

Body

How sex selection reflects patriarchal social values

· Son preference rooted in patriarchal family structures

Sons are traditionally viewed as carriers of lineage, performers of last rites, and inheritors of family property.

Daughters are often perceived as "paraya dhan" and temporary members of the family.

Reflecting this reality, the Supreme Court (2026) observed the continued existence of "deep-seated patriarchal preferences towards a male child" despite improvements in sex-ratio indicators.

· Economic and social valuation of sons over daughters

Sons are often seen as providers of old-age security and contributors to family income.

Dowry and post-marital migration of daughters reinforce the perception of daughters as an economic burden.

Consequently, many families continue to value sons over daughters for inheritance, lineage continuation and social status, highlighting the gap between constitutional guarantees of equality and social reality.

· Systemic discrimination against the girl child

Sex selection is only the earliest manifestation of gender discrimination.

Girls frequently face disadvantages in nutrition, healthcare, education and access to opportunities.

The continued need for schemes to prevent female foeticide and support girls reflects the systemic bias suffered by the girl child in an inherently patriarchal system.

· Declining fertility intensifying son preference

With India's Total Fertility Rate falling below replacement level, families increasingly seek to ensure that one of the limited children is a son.

This "small family–male child" syndrome increases pressure for sex-selective practices and female foeticide.

· Demographic evidence of entrenched patriarchy

Census data shows that the child sex ratio declined from 945 (1991) to 927 (2001) and further to 919 (2011), reflecting the scale of gender-biased sex selection.

The persistence of skewed sex ratios demonstrates that discrimination begins even before birth.

· Regional disparities reveal continuing son preference

States such as Haryana and Punjab have improved through strict enforcement of the PCPNDT Act and awareness campaigns.

However, several states continue to report sex ratios below the national average.

The uneven progress shows that patriarchal norms remain deeply embedded and vary across regions.

· Structural discrimination and the "Missing Women" phenomenon

As highlighted by Amartya Sen, gender-biased practices have led to millions of "missing women" through sex-selective abortions, neglect and unequal treatment.

Sex selection therefore reflects not merely individual choice but a broader structure of gender inequality.

Why legal measures alone are insufficient

· Patriarchy generates the demand; technology merely supplies the means

Sex selection is only one manifestation of broader discrimination reflected in lower female labour-force participation, wage gaps, violence against women and unequal inheritance.

Eliminating technology without addressing social attitudes treats the symptom rather than the disease.

· The Supreme Court emphasised the need for a change in mentality

The Supreme Court observed that the PCPNDT Act must remain in force until the perception of women as possessing an "inherent weakness" is replaced by true equality.

This highlights that legal enforcement alone cannot eradicate entrenched social prejudices.

· Sex selection is rooted in broader gender inequality

Son preference is linked to inheritance patterns, dowry, lineage continuation, old-age support, and religious customs.

These structural factors cannot be addressed solely through criminal law.

· Social acceptance of discrimination weakens enforcement

Families often view sex selection as a private reproductive decision rather than a social crime.

Community complicity reduces reporting and detection.

· Persistence of hidden practices

Practices such as preference for male heirs, performance of last rites, and continuation of lineage enjoy social acceptance.

The Court referred to the "behind-the-curtains" nature of sex selection, indicating that discriminatory practices often continue despite formal legal prohibitions.

Measures Required to Address the Root Causes

· Legal and Institutional Measures

Strengthening the implementation of the PCPNDT Act through regular inspections and strict monitoring of ultrasound clinics and diagnostic centres.

Adopting digital tracking and audit mechanisms to prevent misuse of prenatal diagnostic technologies.

· Transforming Patriarchal Social Norms

Challenging stereotypes that associate sons with lineage continuation, inheritance and old-age security.

Promoting equal inheritance and property rights for women in both law and practice.

· Promoting the Value of the Girl Child

Strengthening initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and state-level girl child welfare schemes.

Encouraging positive representation of daughters in media, cinema and popular culture.

· Women's Economic Empowerment

Increasing female labour-force participation through skill development and employment opportunities.

Expanding financial inclusion, entrepreneurship opportunities and access to institutional credit for women.

Conclusion

Sex selection is not merely a demographic imbalance but a manifestation of entrenched patriarchy and gender discrimination. While stringent implementation of the PCPNDT Act remains essential, lasting success will depend on transforming social values so that daughters are valued equally in family, society, and the economy. As the Supreme Court observed, the ultimate goal is a society where there is no question of whether a girl child deserves to be born, but only celebration of her birth as an equal citizen.