Son Preference, Politics and Policy in Asia - Rahm, Laura
Several Asian governments have issued laws and policies to counter one of the more pervasive forms of gender discrimination today: the deliberate elimination of females before or shortly after birth due to a preference for sons. On the one hand, much headway has been done to challenge traditional hierarchies in the society through social, political and legal reforms. On the other hand, public policies and political discourse have played a significant role in inadvertently creating or reinforcing son preference, and thus have contributed to the persistence of condescending attitudes and practices towards girls. This presentation highlights the linkages between son preference, politics and policies in Asia. It draws from existing literature, policy file analysis, and semi-structured interviews conducted with policy makers during field research in South Korea, India and Vietnam between 2014 and 2015. While South Korea witnessed a near inversion of gender preferences within the last decade linked to social change and accompanied by legal reforms, son preference remains pervasive throughout different parts of India and Vietnam today. Gender equity laws and equal access to inheritance, property and linage create an enabling environment for women, but are often undermined through discriminatory attitudes and practices. Especially in India, political masculinities undermine government’s own efforts in challenging son preference.
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