Son preference, dowry and patriarchy keep Madhesh’s gender bias alive
Summary
Son preference, dowry demands and patriarchal beliefs continue to drive deep gender discrimination in Madhesh Province, where families still value sons over daughters and some women face abuse for giving birth to girls. A once-launched daughter insurance scheme has also been discontinued due to budget shortages.
Key Points
- Patriarchal attitudes in Madhesh Province continue to favor sons, with daughters often seen as a financial burden because of dowry and marriage expenses.
- Cases in Janakpurdham and Saptari illustrate the abuse and abandonment women can face after giving birth to daughters.
- Experts say ultrasound sex selection, early marriage and limited-family trends may further deepen discrimination against girls.
- The Madhesh Provincial Government’s Daughter Insurance Scheme was stopped three years ago after budget shortages, despite its aim to change attitudes toward daughters.
