SYSTEMATIC SEX SELECTION AND THE LONG-TERM PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT

• Introduction:

As research has shown, systematic sex selection is a prevalent phenomenon in South Asian countries, which are predominantly underdeveloped. In this writing, we want to know whether or not it has any impact on the long term pattern of development in these countries. Hence, it is necessary to explore the types of possible relationships that systematic sex selection and the long term pattern of development could have.

• What are the possible and thinkable relationships between systematic sex selection and the long term pattern of development?

We can think of several types of relationships between systematic sex selection and the long term pattern of development. One can be that the former might causally affect the latter, and the effect might be negative. In other words, systematic sex selection might act as a barrier for long term development to happen. It could also be possible that the development process itself might cause systematic sex selection to reduce. Another thinkable relationship is that the two might be interrelated in the sense that each one might affect each other – systematic sex selection might affect the long term pattern of development and vice versa. One even might argue that they are not related to each other at all. In the coming paragraphs, we will try to open up these points and discuss them in more detail.

• A negative causal relationship between systematic sex selection and the long term pattern of development?

If we define sex selection as “an act that ‘should’ result in the death of a female fetus or female baby”, then for such a narrow definition of sex selection, systematic or non-systematic, I don’t see any obvious direct causal relationship between sex selection and long term patter of development when development is defined mainly as growth in GDP and incomes. We might find some indirect relation through the social consequences of systematic sex selection. However, if we define development in a broader sense that includes progression in human rights fronts, social inclusion, equality, and economic justice, then of course systematic sex selection is a high barrier blocking long-term development.

Similarly, if we define systematic sex selection as a process that “might” (not should) result in the death of a female fetus or female baby but “include post-natal sex discrimination as an inevitable part of this process”, then, no matter what the definition of development be, systematic sex selection avoids development. For development to happen, it is necessary that all the sections of society are included in the process. Any discrimination against any section will result either in partial and exclusive development (development for a certain section of society) or in underdevelopment. In a society where systematic sex/gender discrimination is unleashed against women, a big chunk of society – women – will be deprived of their rights, liberties, and not sufficiently educated. Liberated and equally (to men) educated women can make a huge contribution to production, income (through female labor force participation), and hence the welfare of society. This is while deprived, underrepresented, non-educated, and oppressed women would much probably be a burden for a developing economy. In other words, systematic post-natal sex selection, when thought of as an umbrella for systematic sex discrimination, can have a negative effect on the long-term pattern of development.

•  Development as a process that curbs systematic sex selection

Looking into the facts from the perspective of economies that are called “developed”, we might conclude that the development process curbs systematic sex selection. The point I want to make here is that systematic sex selection can be seen as a characteristic of underdeveloped/developing economies, and once development occurs and economies become fully mature in terms of development, the systematic sex selection will disappear. In other words, we can look at it in the same way we look at poverty rather than trying to see it as a barrier to a long-term pattern of development. We see high levels of poverty as a characteristic of developing economies. Once an economy matures in terms of development, poverty reduces sharply. The delicate point I want to communicate is that the development process should be seen as a solution to systematic sex selection in developing countries. Communicated differently, from what we see in the developed world we might be correct to say that some form of causality is running from the development process to the disappearance of systematic sex selection. Now, one might ask about the elements inside the “development process” toolbox that curb systematic sex selection. My answer is strong institutions, rule of law, good governance, educated and well-informed society.

• Interrelation in the sense that each one might affect one another?

Following the above line argument, we can state that it seems there exists an interrelation between systematic sex selection and the long term pattern of development. It means they might have mutual effects on one another. The impact of systematic sex selection on the long term pattern of development, as discussed above, seems to be negative. Similarly, the impact of the development process on systematic sex selection, as suggested by the status of developed countries and the experience of Japan, appears to be negative. According to Amartya Sen “in the censuses of 1899 and 1908 Japan had a clear and substantial deficit of women, but by 1940 the numbers of men and women were nearly equal, and in the postwar decades, as Japan became a rich and highly industrialized country, it moved firmly in the direction of a large surplus, rather than a deficit, of women” (Sen, 1990).

• No relationship between the two?

One might even argue that there exists no relationship between systematic sex selection and long term pattern of development. Statistics from China suggest that systematic sex selection is very prevalent in China. This is while the country is moving very fast towards development. In other words, the statistics suggest that even fast-paced development can happen despite the existence of systematic sex selection. However, one might counter this point saying that the development taken place in China is not a long-term pattern. Also, it can be countered arguing that the prevalent type of sex selection in China is of the pre-natal sort. Hence, it does not affect the economic growth and development of the country. As discussed above, post-natal systematic sex selection cannot be separated from systematic sex discrimination, and it is, in fact, systematic sex discrimination that stands as a barrier against development.

• Conclusion 

Several types of relationships between systematic sex selection and the long term pattern of development are thinkable. However, it seems that an inverse mutual relationship between the two is strong and more plausible. Systematic sex selection stands a barrier against development when development is defined in a broad sense that includes various rights, liberties, equality, and economic justice. Development as a process, through strong institutions, rule of law, good governance and education curbs systematic sex selection. From this conclusion, we can make a keynote and it is the fact that even if systematic sex selection stands in the way of a long-term pattern of development, we might not be able to do anything effective about it unless we reach some certain level of development where institutions, government and rule of law are strong and capable of countering systematic sex selection.

Reference

Sen, A. (1990). More Than 100 Million Women Are Missing. The New York Review of Books.