It's impossible to
overestimate the significance of boys in traditional Hindu society, as well as
the societal preference for males over girls.
One key reason for this prejudice is because only sons are
allowed to make shraddhas, or memorial offerings for the deceased.
Each generation's males are in charge of making these
sacrifices to their forefathers.
They are obligated to produce sons of their own in order to
maintain the family lineage and the chain of ancestral sacrifices across
generations.
Couples that are without a son are not wholly without hope,
since boys may be gained via adoption.
The second significant reason for the desire for sons is
based on considerably more practical considerations.
Daughters go into their marital houses and become members of
their marital fami lies, whilst sons bring their brides into the household and
perpetuate the family line via their own fami lies, according to the
traditional Indian marriage pattern.
As a result, some parents consider their girls to be
"temporary" family members while their boys are "permanent."
The boys will remain in their ancestral home for the rest of their life,
supporting their parents in their old age and producing future generations for
the family.
Although the forces of modernity have had an impact on the
joint family, these ancient traditions and values are still quite strong.
Husbands and wives are increasingly choosing to live apart
from their husband's parents.
The theological, economic, and societal elements that
underpin this predilection for sons have had disastrous consequences in the
past.
In many ways, males may be preferred over girls, whether
intentionally or subconsciously.
Because males are typically expected to support their
families, sons are frequently given preferential treatment in terms of
education and economic possibilities.
Traditional Hindu inheritance rules, which give sons a
substantially bigger part of the inheritance, are based on a similar
assumption.
In impoverished homes, boys may even be given first priority
for basic requirements like food and medical treatment.
Despite these trends, many families nowadays treat all of
their children equally with love and attention.
Because of the tendency toward fewer families, the birth of
a girl may be just as exciting as the birth of a boy.
