Son Preference And Its Determinants In Rural India: An Analysis Based On A Composite Measure of Gender Bias

This paper examines the issue of gender bias in a broader context by constructing a multidimensional index of deprivation of daughters. Using the recently available World Bank LSMS data on the two most populated and poverty ridden states of India, we apply ordered logit regression analysis to investigate the determinants of degree of son preference based on this index of gender bias. It is observed that economic betterment surely affects negatively this broad measure of gender bias in addition to mother’s education. Yet the effect of the agricultural livelihood increases the incidence of bias. Another finding is in relation to the effectiveness of basic education and health facilities like schools and health centers rather than any specific Government anti-poverty or targeted development programmes.