Indian Muslims Have a Better Sex Ratio Than Hindus

A family, wanting to have only one child but culturally compelled to have a boy is more likely to engage in the shameful act of female feticide. In her book “Unnatural Selection”, Mara Hvistendahl has documented a similar phenomenon observed in China.  A family that wants to have more number of children, on the other hand, isn’t very particular about whether a boy or a girl comes first, as long as the highly desirable boy is eventually born.

To put it simply, it’s possible that Muslims have a better sex ratio because they have bigger families. Religion and culture plays an important albeit subtle role in determining people’s inclination towards preferring a son. Islam discourages Muslims from using contraception which is probably why they have bigger families and hence better sex ratio.

Is it possible to change deeply held beliefs and prejudices? Khan’s TV show certainly seemed to have the right elements needed to bring about this change.