(RESPECT) her.

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About (RESPECT) her.

2006 Total Population Sex Ratio in China- 106.1 males : 100 females
2006 Age 0-4 Years Sex Ratio in China- 113.5 males: 100 females

2006 Total Population Sex Ratio in India- 106.4 males: 100 females
2006 Age 0-4 Years Sex Ratio in India- 110.4 males: 100 females

This group is dedicated to spreading awareness of the increased male to female sex ratios in China and India.

As a conclusion to my senior thesis, I am designing an ad campaign to spread awareness of the far reaching nature of discrimination against girls and women throughout the world.

If you have photos that convey gender equality, girls'/womens' rights, and anti-discrimination messages in a creative way, please post them to this group.

*Try to keep photos free of text, as this group is to be universally applicable.*

"The widening gender gap in China and India is indeed a product of cultural preferences for sons, a preference that is aided by the spread of prenatal sex screening technologies and the relative ease with which an abortion can be undertaken despite legislative efforts to curb obtainment of abortion based on sex selection. Government legislation proves to be difficult to enforce, as China and India are geographically massive countries with diverse regions and populations divided along ethnic, economic, and rural/urban lines; thus, unless legislation can be properly and equally enforced, a change in cultural perceptions of women must be effected. While legislative policies banning the use of prenatal gender discrimination have been enacted, the enforcement of such policies is difficult, politically tumultuous (as they infringe upon a woman’s right to control her body and allow the rights of the fetus to supersede those of the mother), and will undoubtedly lead to the discrimination against and mistreatment or neglect of the unwanted female children. Though discrimination against the female fetus is obviously undesirable, neglect, infanticide, abandonment, and abuse of the female child or woman are arguably more heinous.
In order to effectively combat gender inequality and its extension to discrimination against the fetus and the sentient female, it is necessary to address the root of the problem: cultural perceptions regarding women. The increasing sex ratio will only further intensify biases against women, as their collective voice in society will be weakened by their dwindling population. As women become more and more of a rarity, large portions of the male population will find it difficult to marry and produce children, giving rise to transient and unassimilated populations, domestic instabilities and perhaps even international ramifications. Policies changing property and inheritance rights of women, widespread and stable pension systems that ensure social security in old age, increased opportunities for women in the work force, as well as marriage rights regarding dowry, may prove to change cultural views of women. This in turn would decrease the cultural preference for sons over daughters and the belief that sons are more beneficial for the family. Though it is apt to occur slowly and over several generations, these changes are not out of reach of an international community dedicated to bringing about gender equity."
-Copyright 2007- Kerry Crawford- St. Mary's College of Maryland


Also see this group:
www.flickr.com/groups/50_million_missing/