Catherine Tran
Writ 340
Professor Murray
Aborted Girls, Wanted Brides
Cultural preference for boys in parts of India results in some of the largest imbalances between males and females in the world. This leads to sex-selective abortions and infanticide of girls, while boys are prized because they are believed to mature as leaders of the world and household, as they pass on the family name and traditions. This perpetuates the ongoing role of patriarchy and the customary belief that men are superior and dominant to their female counterparts. However, when families decide to follow the trend of selectively only having sons, there are scarcely any women to be wedded. Although bearing daughters is not desired, women are crucial and necessary for continuing the family lineage. This uneven ratio of male to female creates a demand for brides that human traffickers are willing to meet. The summation of male superiority coupled with human trafficking further descends women and young girls into a low social cast, as this cyclic pattern succumbs women to an even lower status of their ancestors. Although supply and demand implies that women are cherished and valued, they are not. Instead women and girls as young as 14 years old are kidnapped, raped, and forced into a lifetime of domestication. Trafficked brides do not arrive into their new homes as prized wives, as they are referred to as a paro, a derogatory for foreigner or stranger. Yet, remaining a bachelor is not an option, as a bride is needed to help the groom’s parents, cook, clean, and take care of the husband on command. This propagates an era of modern day slavery that targets young girls into forced labor and marriage. So few women exist that they are often shared with unmarried brothers, who live in the same house. Thus, they are not seen as a domestic partner, but objectified into something that can be shared among the household and conditioned to obey the commands of the owner. There are approximately 858 girls born for every 1,000 boys, a ratio made possible with medical intervention. This gender shortage turns the sacredness of marriage into a demeaning business that only the rich and men with government jobs can afford, while anyone who earns less cannot find a bride anymore. This urgency to buy a bride magnifies and fuels human trafficking to the most vulnerable population in India, as they are the most defenseless to those in power with money. Traffickers capitalize on the scarcity by targeting women trapped in poverty to sell as brides. This vicious cycle induced by poverty is sustained by India 's attitude towards women. Regions, typically poor, with balanced sex ratios are targets for human trafficking as daughters are kidnapped and sold to regions that are more conservative and wealthy, meaning they 're able to afford ultrasound scans and selective abortions. While some kidnapped girls manage to escape their captor, they could not escape the shame the community casts on them. Often, when the village finds out about the attack and rape, children starts to tease the victim, making school or any public appearances a nightmare for any young girl. This also harms the family, as it makes it harder for the father to find a job because the town condemns the whole family, even though the girl is not at fault …show more content…
This shows that people can be unaware of their actions and that they are the direct cause of the problem and that they are not progressing forward, rather receding in gender equality.
Human trafficking caters to demand for brides. (2014, Sep 04). Mint Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1559200793?accountid=14749
States are trying to ensure that search for brides are not through human trafficking and that the government will protect the rights of women and children. This article also states that it is harder for men to find brides because women have become more educated, as men do not want to marry someone that is more accomplished.
Men still have a very strong patriarchal mindset, as they want to be the dominant and leading figure in the household. Thus, they will not want to marry someone who will make them look
Writ 340
Professor Murray
Aborted Girls, Wanted Brides
Cultural preference for boys in parts of India results in some of the largest imbalances between males and females in the world. This leads to sex-selective abortions and infanticide of girls, while boys are prized because they are believed to mature as leaders of the world and household, as they pass on the family name and traditions. This perpetuates the ongoing role of patriarchy and the customary belief that men are superior and dominant to their female counterparts. However, when families decide to follow the trend of selectively only having sons, there are scarcely any women to be wedded. Although bearing daughters is not desired, women are crucial and necessary for continuing the family lineage. This uneven ratio of male to female creates a demand for brides that human traffickers are willing to meet. The summation of male superiority coupled with human trafficking further descends women and young girls into a low social cast, as this cyclic pattern succumbs women to an even lower status of their ancestors. Although supply and demand implies that women are cherished and valued, they are not. Instead women and girls as young as 14 years old are kidnapped, raped, and forced into a lifetime of domestication. Trafficked brides do not arrive into their new homes as prized wives, as they are referred to as a paro, a derogatory for foreigner or stranger. Yet, remaining a bachelor is not an option, as a bride is needed to help the groom’s parents, cook, clean, and take care of the husband on command. This propagates an era of modern day slavery that targets young girls into forced labor and marriage. So few women exist that they are often shared with unmarried brothers, who live in the same house. Thus, they are not seen as a domestic partner, but objectified into something that can be shared among the household and conditioned to obey the commands of the owner. There are approximately 858 girls born for every 1,000 boys, a ratio made possible with medical intervention. This gender shortage turns the sacredness of marriage into a demeaning business that only the rich and men with government jobs can afford, while anyone who earns less cannot find a bride anymore. This urgency to buy a bride magnifies and fuels human trafficking to the most vulnerable population in India, as they are the most defenseless to those in power with money. Traffickers capitalize on the scarcity by targeting women trapped in poverty to sell as brides. This vicious cycle induced by poverty is sustained by India 's attitude towards women. Regions, typically poor, with balanced sex ratios are targets for human trafficking as daughters are kidnapped and sold to regions that are more conservative and wealthy, meaning they 're able to afford ultrasound scans and selective abortions. While some kidnapped girls manage to escape their captor, they could not escape the shame the community casts on them. Often, when the village finds out about the attack and rape, children starts to tease the victim, making school or any public appearances a nightmare for any young girl. This also harms the family, as it makes it harder for the father to find a job because the town condemns the whole family, even though the girl is not at fault …show more content…
This shows that people can be unaware of their actions and that they are the direct cause of the problem and that they are not progressing forward, rather receding in gender equality.
Human trafficking caters to demand for brides. (2014, Sep 04). Mint Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1559200793?accountid=14749
States are trying to ensure that search for brides are not through human trafficking and that the government will protect the rights of women and children. This article also states that it is harder for men to find brides because women have become more educated, as men do not want to marry someone that is more accomplished.
Men still have a very strong patriarchal mindset, as they want to be the dominant and leading figure in the household. Thus, they will not want to marry someone who will make them look