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Article: Anti-Girl Bias Rises in Asia, Studies Show; Abortion Augmenting Infanticide, Neglect
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 11, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The long-standing custom in some Asian countries of allowing
girls to die soon after birth, either by neglect or by outright
infanticide, appears to have become increasingly common in recent
years as women opt for smaller families, according to new studies
reported this week.
The new research on demographic data from India, China and
Taiwan suggests that biases against girls are not disappearing even
as those countries' birth rates approach those of Western nations.
The work also indicates that women are increasingly using prenatal
sex-determination tests and selective abortions to ensure that they
give birth to boys.
"As fertility has declined, sex preferences have stayed ...