Ladoos Pink and Blue: Combating Female Feticide Through the Celebration and Empowerment of Women

Female feticide is the selective abortion of female fetuses upon pre-natal sex determination in an effort to prevent the birth of girls. The most alarming gender ratios occur in South Asia, namely India, resulting in around 35 and 40 million females missing from the population. This form of patriarchy and violence against unborn women is most prevalent in North India, especially the state of Punjab where the gender ratio was 874:1000 in 2001. Similarly in 2001, the ratio for children ages 0-6 was 793:1000. Through the use of ultrasound scanning, amniocentesis, and in vitro fertilization, the sex ratio has steadily changed in favor of males in the past century. Private sex determination clinics were established and popularized in the 1970s, leading to widespread female feticide. Alarmingly, the trend is practiced much more frequently in urban areas and among the literate, overturning the assumption that such extreme forms of gender bias can simply be combated by increasing prosperity and literacy in rural areas. It is apparent then that female feticide is deeply informed by social beliefs and values.
Prenatal sex determination with the intention of preventing female births must be viewed as violence against women and a violation of their human rights. The pregnant woman, though often equally anxious to have a boy, is often pressured into undergoing such procedures. Many women suffer from psychological trauma as a result of forcibly undergoing repeated abortions, as well as the pressure of not giving birth to a male.
Along with seriously altering gender ratios, female feticide has many other grave implications for women in Punjab where patriarchy and devaluation of women is already rampant. Early reports show that families in Punjab, a more prosperous region, have already begun importing women from poorer regions for marriage to their sons. These women are often abused and victimized by their families.
Cultural values of male-preference migrate along with immigrants. The practice of female feticide and sex-selective abortion is a widespread little-discussed practice amongst many Asian families. South Asian American families are particularly prone, as has been indicated by anecdotal information from hospitals, located in communities with large South Asian immigrant communities.
Sex-selective abortions marks only the beginning of patriarchy and violence against women. Too often women suffer in silence. In a 2006 survey conducted by the Jakara Movement and completed by over 285 Punjabi-American women confirmed the alarming state of Punjabi women in North America. Almost 60% of the women claimed to have experienced bouts of depression; over 60% had seen or been victims of physical abuse; and over 25% had been the victim of sexual abuse. Thus, the effects of gender bias, grossly manifest in violence against women, in Punjab have surfaced in the Punjabi Diaspora.
The cultural practice of male-preference is widely known amongst medical entrepreneurs in densely populated Punjabi areas. In fact a niche market has been created where some professionals especially seek to advertise sex-selection in Punjabi vernacular newspapers. Although statistics are not yet forthcoming, qualitative research and anecdotal evidence highly corroborates the known notion that sex-selective abortions are a common practice in North America.
This project, “Ladoos Pink and Blue,” seeks to foster value and celebrate the birth of a daughter, just as a son would be rejoiced in Punjabi communities. The program will promote, what medical professionals term, a community-based “behavioral change campaign.” The project will celebrate the births of all children. In keeping with the Punjabi tradition of celebrating the birth of a son by sharing sweets called ladoos, the project will celebrate the birth of female children, include culturally-sensitive and immigrant language-specific health literature, as well as host events to create a support group for women that find themselves pressured by members in their family to give birth to a son.
Individuals will be able to register friends and family members who are expecting. Registrants will have the opportunity to enter expected date of birth, sex of the baby (if known), and shipping information where packages will be sent. Additionally we will be working with local hospitals and doctors to give Punjabi patients (who are expecting a child) information on the project as well. At the same time, this project will host and promote events that empower and celebrate Punjabi women. For example, cultural festivities traditionally held to celebrate the birth of males, such as Lorhi, will be “reinterpreted” to include females. Events celebrating exemplary historic Punjabi women will be promoted. Lastly, the project will include a database to help further statistical analysis of Punjabis in North America.
Beginning the pilot project in California’s Central Valley, a region densely populated by Punjabi immigrants, the project will replicate its success beyond. This project hopes to serve as a stepping-stone for change within the Punjabi community by advocating gender-equality. The immediate goal of this project is to create a community-based initiative that supports new mothers and provides a countering voice that celebrates the birth of every Punjabi girl.