Examining the Complexities of Sex-Selective Abortion in Contemporary and Colonial India: A Literature Review

The persistent "missing women" phenomenon in India, characterized by skewed female-to-male sex ratios at birth, is due to the multi-century practice of femicide, both through female infanticide as well as sex-selective abortion. This literature review explores various dimensions of sex-selective abortion both in Indian contemporary and colonial society, focusing on sociocultural motivators, current and past legal frameworks, and future methods of addressing this issue. This paper examines historical colonial legacies, contemporary societal dynamics, and current sex-selective abortion practices to argue that sex-selective abortion is incentivized by current institutions in contemporary India. Furthermore, findings conclude that to truly eliminate the sex selection process, sociocultural motivators, including son preference, must be addressed without demonizing or criminalizing abortion as a whole. Furthermore, it is also concluded that legal frameworks have consistently failed to address the complexities of sex-selective practices and that community-based and other interventions are more promising.