Female feticide: Social ramification of development

The practice of female feticide, reflected through lower sex ratio is a peculiar feature of Northern India (943) specifically Punjab (893). To explain the phenomenon of female feticide, two propositions have been put forth. First, that female feticide is a social fact which is external to the individual and has a coercive nature and the second is that the very foundation of this social fact is economic in nature. Discussion based on secondary data locates the deterministic factor of female feticide in economic arena where power and property are positively related. Women's equal right in inherited property is the solution but in spite of having recognized through legislation since 1995, not much change has been evident till date due to patriarchal mindset. To change the mindset focusing on younger population, especially boys, through making gender sensitivity an explicit part of content in education is the need of the hour. Nevertheless, socializing girls from early childhood to assume all those responsibilities normally considered as males’ can be helpful to much extent.