Gender discriminations among young children in Asia

Subsequent to the demographic transition, Asian countries have been experiencing deep-rooted changes in family structures. In this context, the question of gender relations within the family, and more generally within society, is crucial, in view of the increase in discriminatory practices toward women, beginning at foetal conception and continuing through all stages of life. Asia is the “black continent” for women. Estimates place the deficit in the number of women in the world at between 60 and 100 million, the vast majority of which is found on this continent. This book focuses on the intensity of female discrimination, from a demographic perspective, in the earliest stages of life, and more specifically around birth, in China, India, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan. These societies share cultural characteristics that are not favourable to women: patriarchal systems, patrilineal families, socialization processes encouraging the submission of wives to their husband's family, etc. In these societies, a son is needed to perpetuate the family line and ensure social and biological reproduction of the family. These are among the reasons why they share a strong son preference, which is in some cases accentuated by economic constraints. A son is generally the only person to support his parents in old age, and as a rule help with work in the fields. Moreover, girls and women still occupy a marginal position in society, whereas a male heir offers countless advantages.La transition démographique suscite, en Asie, de profondes transformations dans les structures familiales. Dans ce contexte, la question des rapports sociaux des sexes au sein de la famille, et plus généralement au sein de la société, est cruciale, dans la mesure où elle entraîne l’augmentation des discriminations à l’égard des femmes dès la conception et à tous les âges de la vie. L’Asie est le “continent noir” pour les femmes. Ce livre traite, par une approche démographique, des discriminations des femmes aux jeunes âges de la vie, et en particulier autour de la naissance, en Chine, en Inde, au Pakistan, en République de Corée et à Taiwan. Ces sociétés d’Asie partagent des caractéristiques culturelles qui ne sont pas favorables aux femmes ; un fils est désiré pour perpétuer la lignée et assurer la reproduction biologique et sociale de la famille. Des contraintes économiques peuvent aussi expliquer la préférence pour les garçons