Development of the secondary sex ratio in India and China

Development of the secondary sex ratio in India and China Abstract The main objective of this thesis is to describe the population development and the development of the sex ratio at birth in India and China from 1950 to the present. In the majority of the populations of the world the sex ratio at birth (number of males born per 100 females) has usually values between 104- 106 male live births per 100 female live births, although determining exact borders varies depending on source. In some countries, the sex ratio at birth has risen to unnaturally high values in recent decades. This has happened in East and Southeast, South and West Asia or in Southeast Europe. In those countries, the son preference is deeply rooted. This is determined by many cultural, political, social and economic conditions. When two of the signs of gender discrimination are increasing sex ratio at birth and excessive female infant mortality, it brings a number of demographic consequences, which have further economic and social impact on society. No wonder many governments of the affected countries pay attention to this phenomenon, because those generated problems could affect and in some countries probably will affect society dozens years after sex ratio at birth returns to biologically normal values. Keywords: secondary sex ratio,..