Title: Sex Preference in South Asia
Subtitle: Sri Lanka an Outlier
Description: The study shows that the widespread son preference in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan is manifested in the form of post-natal discrimination against the girl child. This is in contrast to the situation in East Asia where pre-natal sex discrimination prevails. It is also clear that the absence of widespread societal preference for sons in Sri Lanka is due to the relatively high status of women. The strong overall son preference in a population of 1.2 billion people in South Asia has varied demographic, social, economic and health implications for the region.

The demographic impact of son preference appears to be closely associated with family size norms, availability of contraceptive services and sex-selection technologies. The imbalance in sex ratios of children under five years of age resulting from the discrimination against female children may lead to female sex imbalances in the marriageable ages in the future. If females become scares, the situation may improve the status of women in the long term. However, it may also contribute to an increase in sex-related crimes and violence as well as homosexual activities. 

The gradual erosion of the widespread societal preference for sons in countries with a large population in South Asia may be brought about, as has taken place in Sri Lanka, by raising the economic and social value of the girl child through education. In a modernizing society such as in South Korea, where sex preference and status of women are relatively high, it has been demonstrated that there is a clear negative relationship between son preference and educational attainment of the mother.

Over a period of time, it is likely that wider societal acceptance of education, health care and family planning will occur owing to the demonstration effect of the benefits of these services to families and the community at large. This would contribute to the elimination of post-natal sex discrimination and enable couples to resolve the conflict between the achievement of small family norms and sex preference.