Unwanted - a world without women
Maja Raicevic |
TEDxKotor
• October 2019
According to the UN Population Fund, about 126 million women today are believed to be "missing" around the world, as a result of parents choosing to abort female fetus.
There is a clear correlation between this data, discrimination and gender-based violence against women.
Today, the cultural trend of ‘unwanted daughters’ becomes a big concern , when we consider how the modern technology is being abused - genetic tests that detect sex in the early stages of pregnancy, are being used by many parents in order to decide whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy, depending on the sex of the foetus.
However, even though such technology has provided an additional method for sex selection, it is not the root cause of it. Just like any violence against women, this negative practice stems from deeply embedded patriarchal norms that privilege men and place women in an unequal position.
It is the cultural context that creates son preference and makes the girls unwanted, which has to be a central part of all actions to redress gender inequalities manifested through sex-ratio imbalances. We need to change the mindsets and attitudes towards girls, and to increase the recognition of the value of girls and women in society. We must deliberately involve both men and women in reviewing and changing the norms that contribute to this negative practice.
Boys and girls need to learn equality from a young age. We need to empower women and support them in making informed and autonomous decisions about their bodies.