South Asia’s ‘Daughter Deficit’: New hope from Bangladesh on the survival of daughters. Canada, 6th October 2011

This lecture on daughter deficit and related issues in Bangladesh will be delivered by Prof. Naila Kabeer, an extensive researcher on gender with a special focus on South and Southeast Asia. It will be held in Ottawa, Canada on the 6th October.

In India, nearly 10 million women have gone missing since 1985. Sex-selective abortion, infanticide, and the neglect/discrimination of India’s daughters have been recognized by some, such as India’s national newspaper, The Hindu, as a national emergency and “…an epidemic that will have far-reaching social consequences.”

But the picture in neighbouring Bangladesh seems to be rather different. Here, survival chances of girls relative to boys have steadily improved and there is little evidence of sex-selective abortion. The research was funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

The findings in Bangladesh provide a new vantage point from which to reexamine India’s ‘daughter deficit.’ In a public lecture at IDRC today, Naila Kabeer will explore the diverging trends in these countries. The Bangladesh study draws on a survey of 5,000 women in different districts in Bangladesh, including the village where Kabeer explored some of these questions in 1979.

WHEN: October 6, 2011, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: 150 Kent Street, 8th floor, Ottawa, ON

Naila Kabeer is Professor of Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University. She has done extensive research on gender, labour markets, livelihoods, social protection, and citizenship issues with a special focus on South and Southeast Asia.

Read more about IDRC’s previous work on India’s ‘daughter deficit’, including findings published in a recent article in The Lancet, or listen to Indian women talk about their missing daughters in a video produced by ActionAid India.

Journalists and the public can join in the conversation through Twitter (#IDRC) and Facebook.

For more information visit www.idrc.ca.

About IDRC

A key part of Canada’s aid program since 1970, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development. IDRC also encourages sharing this knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most.

Information:
Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé
(+1 613) 696-2343
[email protected]
@IDRC_CRDI

From 06 Oct 2011
Until 06 Oct 2011
150 Kent Street, 8th floor, Ottawa, ON
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