In India, the practice of female foeticide has become quite common. The reason being simple: people do not want a girl.
After working with an NGO for a couple of years, I have observed that men play but little role in deciding for an abortion. The women are not totally responsible too, the obvious reason being that a mother can not, without any plausible reason, put an end to her own child's life.
Female foeticide, most of the time, is not an individual decision.
The mental pressure by the society and relatives is the main reason behind such a decision.
Now the question comes what does society has to do with it? The answer is: a lot. The reasons are many. Dowry, a girl's first and foremost burden, is the first one. Then comes the son being the heir, an unsafe atmosphere for girls, societal restrictions and lack of religious privileges. There are numerous others, but these are the ones, that people give most of the time, when asked- "why don't you want a girl?"
It's a serious issue and the government is doing a lot. But nothing important can happen until it doesn't take more than parents' blessings in their daughter's wedding and women can step out of the house unaccompanied by their fathers or brothers.
So, the answer to the question: who is responsible?
The people, men and women.
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