Factors responsible for Gender Discrimination and Child Abuse

Today News has been displaying recent deaths of newly born facing cruelty at the hands of relatives. Indian is growing financially but not socially because the mentality of more than half of population is still the same as earlier. Girl child is still looked upon with hatred and boy child is praised to be godsend. In India, gender discrimination is not confined to one particular economic class or section or a community. It is widespread and even states that have the highest literacy rates like Kerala has a skewed child sex ratio. Indian census reports in current news have shown a significant decline in the number of girls as compared to boys. This gender discrimination and child abuse is due to following reasons: Male Power Domination in FamilyMale domination over the family is seen in almost every family in India. Being the only source of income other family members are dependent on him. This puts him in extreme powerful position among family members. In most literate and illiterate parts of India this problem is severe because girls of family are often unable to speak up. In breaking news the limitation of rights within the family and practically no decision-making powers has weakened women in standing against men.PovertyFor a family, which can hardly manage for two times of food, a girl child is seen as a curse. In extreme poverty girls can build up tensed situation as they are only treated as household servants and can’t go out for earning purposes. Boys in that family are thought to be helpful as they can lend a helping hand in earning some money for improving financial condition. Thus, girl child in these families lose their life even before starting or if it’s started then later on they are treated as burden for the family. Dowry in MarriageDowry has been included in marriage traditions in India. Not legally but even educated people are indulged in this dowry giving act. Daughters in these families feel financially drained especially in areas where dowry is practiced. Originally started with a help with marriage expenses, dowry came to be seen as payment to the groom's family for taking on the burden of another woman. Even in giving of dowry women were thought of neglected part of society and are treated as a burden. This has also put a question mark on the safety of women. As per current news it has been estimated that around 5,000 Indian women are killed each year in dowry related incidents.