by Vibhuti Patel, Women's Centre, Bombay

Amniocentesis is a scientific technique that was intended to be used in detecting genetic abnormalities of a foetus. In India, it is currently being widely used as a means for sex determination. By comparison to other countries, amniocentesis is quite expensive in India. Yet, not only upper class women, but even working class women have access to the test. A recent survey of the slums in Bombay revealed that when women found out their foetus was female, many chose to abort. Many argued that it was better to spend a bit of money now for an abortion than have to pay a fortune for a girl's future marriage.

The controversy began a few years ago when the results of several investigative reports were published in popular Indian magazines and journals. Many of the results were horrifying. Of 8,000 abortions following amniocentesis, 7,999 were found to involve female foetuses. In addition, between years 1978 and 1983, it is estimated that 78,000 female foetuses were aborted after sex- determination tests m India.

The government and private practitioners involved in this lucrative trade justify the sex-determination test as a measure for population control. Women have always been the ones burdened with the effects of family planing practices. Harmful effects of pregnancy tests, contraceptive pills, anti-pregnancy injections, and unhygienic camps for mass sterilisation of women are just a few of the drawbacks often overlooked by enthusiasts of family planning policy.

Large and steady decline in the female/male ratio this century

India has a history of killing female children (dudhapiti) by putting opium on the mother's nipple, by putting the afterbirth over the child's face, and by ill-treating its daughters. Even today. Between 1971 and 1981, there was a marginal increase in the ratio, although women are still outnumbered by men. India is one of the few countries where the female-to-male ratio is declining. Economists often say that if the supply of women is reduced, women's status will be enhanced.

According to this logic, women won't be burnt alive because of insufficient dowry because they won't be an easily replaceable commodity. But the economists forget the socio-cultural female members of the family get inferior treatment as far as food, medication, and education is concerned. When a girl grows up, she is further harassed about her dowry. Many social scientists ask whether or not it is better to die rather than be ill-treated. In the words of Dharam Kumar, "Does the birth of...millions of unwanted girls improve the status of women?" To think that it is better to kill a female child or foetus than to have a child whose sex is not highly valued in society is fatalistic. Next, people will rationalize that it is better to kill the poor rather than let them suffer poverty and deprivation! How horrifying!"

But what can be the long-term implications if such trends continue? Won't it further aggravate the already disturbed sex— ratio? There was a large and steady decline in the female/male ratio in India between 1901 and 1971. milieu in which women have to live. A society that treats women as mere sex objects will not treat women in a more humane way just because they are in scarce supply. On the contrary, in many local communities, there is a negative correlation between the female/male sex ratio and the incidence of rape, abduction and forced polyandry.

Another argument in favor of sex-determination tests is one which touts the myth of the ideal "balanced family". It is argued that women who have one or more daughters should be allowed to abort their daughters and try again to produce a son. This concept of "balanced family" is extremely sexist and very frightening. Would a couple undergo amniocentesis to get rid of a male foetus, just so that they could have a daughter in order to balance their family? No, never!

Time and again it is stated that women themselves enthusiastically go for the test out of their own free will. "It is a question of a woman's choice." But, are these choices made in a social vacuum? Indian women are socially conditioned to believe that unless they produce one or so male children, they have no social worth. They are harassed, taunted, and even deserted by their husbands and in-laws if they fail to produce a male child. Thus, their 'choices' are limited by their fear of ridicule by society.

It is true that feminists all over the world demanded the right of women to control their own bodies and choose whether or not to have children. They have also fought for free, legal and safe abortions. But these issues should be viewed in a different context in Third World societies because imperialism and racism are often major forces working to control coloured populations. Population control advocates often endorse women's rights and then divert attention from the real causes of the population problem: lack of food, economic security, clean drinking water and safe clinical facilities. These factors have created a situation where women must have between two and six children in order to have at least one surviving male child. This is the root of the population problem.

Abuse of amniocentesis shatters the myth of the neutrality of science and technology. Just as the invention of atomic energy was used to destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki, so could sex determination tests be used for female extermination.

We at the Women's Centre are undertaking educational campaigns to help combat this problem. Most women's groups feel that amniocentesis should be permitted only under strict governmental control and only for the detection of genetic abnormalities. To consistently campaign against the notorious activities of money-minded doctors and the antipathy of the government, the Forum Against Sex-Determination and Sex Pre-selection was formed in Bombay in 1986. As a result, this issue has gained nationwide publicity and the government has begun to respond favourably. In March 1987, a committee was appointed to study the proposal to stop the misuse of sex-determination tests. We are hopeful that the government will help to prevent the situation from leading to further female extermination.

For further information, contact:

Women's Centre 104B Sunrise Apt., Above Canary Bank Nehru Road, Vakola Santacruz (East), Bombay 400 055 India

Source: Connexions, Winter 1987