- sex selection
SEX SELECTION
What is in the best interests of women can get easily obfuscated when conservative social norms, medical technology, commercial interests and population control are thrown into the same cauldron. Such was the case with technologies such as amniocentesis and ultrasound, that were useful in monitoring fetal development and detecting congenital abnormalities but could also detect the sex of the foetus. This latter capability led to a flourishing industry where thousands of female foetuses were aborted, threatening to further skew the already adverse female to male sex ratio.
Amid a raging controversy on ‘women’s best interests’, we campaigned for a national legislation to regulate the use and misuse of these technologies which was finally passed in 1994. Today, the challenge lies in putting political will behind the bill and ensuring implementation of the law. But in the context of new reproductive technologies and surrogacy, etc, the challenges are on the rise.
ARTICLES
Favourable Changes On The Anvil
Newsletter
The Ultrasonography Boom
Newsletter Jan – Apr 2006
SEX SELECTION: TRYING TO TAME THE TIGER
Newsletter Jan – Apr 2003
LAW ON SEX DETERMINATION: AMENDMENTS & DEVELOPMENTS
Newsletter May – Aug 2002
Souvenir 1995
SEX DETERMINATION AND CHILDBIRTH: CRITIQUE OF THE NEW BILL
Newsletter Jan 1995