Notwithstanding their differing religious make-up, society in India and Pakistan is far from welcoming in its attitude towards female children. In patriarchal structures, families prefer male children and boys tend to be spoilt. It is true that in the absence of free universal healthcare, as well as of a pension system accessible to all, males represent the economic future of the family, notably of ageing parents. As for the status of women within the family unit, it is based, at least during the first years of marriage, on their reproductive function and their ‘capacity’ to give birth to boys; ironic, given that biology teaches us that the female ovum is sexless.

The French demographer, Jean-Claude Chesnais (1996, p. 72) emphasises that ‘demography is a kind of […] moral statistics since it allows us to measure the degree of integration or disintegration of a society. It […] measures the potential for growth or decline, for expansion or regression of human groups, civilisations or religions.’ It is interesting to examine the issue of the equality of sexes in Pakistan and India from a demographic perspective and one of its corollaries: that of the status of women within society (looking in particular at legislation on marriage) and their access to public space. These can be seen as two indicators of the relative positions of men and of women. We will look at the Indian and Pakistani context in turn, and attempt what is a challenging comparison.

India is a particularly interesting case study. With more than 1.2 billion inhabitants, according to the census of 2011, this demographic giant is confronted by one major issue that threatens its equilibrium: the alarming deficit in female births that will further aggravate the position of women if the authorities fail to take rapid and effective remedial steps. Through looking at this phenomenon, one can better comprehend a fundamental issue: that while India is a society advancing at different speeds, belief in traditional patriarchal values remains the norm. Technology now offers once inconceivable opportunities to families that are seeking to reduce their overall size and who are therefore all the more desirous to have only male offspring.

Pakistan (and Bangladesh) seem to be spared a serious decrease in female live births. Is this due to a different attachment to religious principles or more difficult access to echography and medical abortion? It is also possible to ‘lose’ female babies post-partum. And with regard to the safety in public space, it is probably in some way ensured by women’s self-policing, as, conscious of threats, they limit their own movements. 

References

Chesnais, Jean-Claude 1996, Demographie et stratégie: le crépuscule de l’Occident [Demography and Strategy: the Twilight of the West], Défense nationale [National Defence], Paris, no. 4, pp, 69-77.