In the Pursuit of Sons

Additional Births or Sex-Selective Abortion in Pakistan

Bibliographic Data

ID4120909
AuthorsBatool Zaidi (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Philip Morgan, S Philip Morgan (0009-0003-2269-5368, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Year2016
Volume42
Issue4
Pages693-710
Publication date2016-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePopulation and Development Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0098-7921 • E-ISSN: 1728-4457
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/padr.12002
PMID28392607
OpenAlexW2558564057
LanguageEN
Citations received30
References cited32

Even though Pakistan is a highly patriarchal society, it has not featured prominently in studies focusing on sex-selective abortion and sex ratios at birth. But with fertility declining and existing strong son preference-Pakistan has one of the highest desired sex ratios in the world-how will Pakistani families respond? In the pursuit of sons, will they have additional children or resort to sex-selective abortions? Or is there evidence that the pursuit of sons is weakening? Using data from three rounds of the demographic and health survey, we show clear evidence of son preference in fertility intentions, patterns of contraceptive use and parity progression ratios. More specifically, we find pervasive evidence that Pakistanis continue childbearing to have a son, to have more than one son and to have at least one daughter. We do not find consistent and convincing evidence that sex ratios at birth (which indicate sex-selective abortion) are increasing

Abortion · Biology · Citation · Genealogy · Library science · Population · Pregnancy · Sociology · Computer Science · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · History · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

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