According to the World Health Organisation, the natural sex ratio at birth is considered to be 1.05. This means that on average there are 105 males for every 100 females born. China and India are immensely exceeding this rate. The CIAs World Factbook exposes the harsh reality of Chinas sex ratio at birth averaging to be a staggering 1.19, and Indias 1.08, however population levels between the ages of 0 and 14 have a ratio of 1.12, suggesting the practise of female infanticide is often occurring. Son preference is highly present in these two countries and has resulted in skewed sex ratios. It has been researched that parents favouring baby boys in China has stemmed from the Confucian tradition which has imbedded ideologies of the roles and importance of females and males in Chinese society for more than 2000 years. Not only has Chinas cultural traditions enforced son preference, but despite governments attempts to better the population with the One-Child Policy, it has further encouraged the families to abort if the one child is not a boy. Son preference is again reinforc
ed with parents concerns for old age support; the now failed rural pension programs in China has concreted the minds of many parents to rely on sons in their old age. Indias son preference, like China, originates from deep rooted culture. The Caste system in which allows females to be raped and the expensive payment of dowries are two of the most prominent reasons of why Indian parents go to the extremes to have a son and not a daughter. Sex selective abortions are seen as the lesser of two evils by Indian mothers considering the suffering women endure in India. Skewed sex ratios resulting from male preference have delivered major issues and social implications in both China and India. The trafficking industry has emerged from the lack of wives in China and India. An increase in young unmarried men has contributed to higher crime rates in both countries. Studies have shown increased trafficked sex workers has increased STI counts in particular HIV and AIDS in China and India. Lastly young men have been provided with the strenuous task of supporting the growing population.