We are fed on a diet of gruesome violence and dowry deaths: Flavia

Mumbai, Jun 12 (UNI) We are fed on a diet of gruesome violence, gang rape, burns and dowry death, and women tend to internalise violence said Flavia Agnes, advocate and founder of NGO Majlis which has just celebrated 16 years.

She said this at a three day workshop on ''Gender and Media'' held at Lonavala here. She added, ''Ultra-sound is profitable therefore everyone wants to do it. But in England doctors say, ''Your pregnancy is as safe as doing one or two sonographies.'' Speaking on the occasion Sabu George, journalist and activist said, ''Malpractice is very very profitable, and unless you shame people who indulge in female feoticide, there is no cure. Today it is the doctors who are the most unethical, but very respectable as money makes you respectable.'' Here there is no tradition of having a girl child. Citing a real life instance George said, ''Mr and Mrs Ravi have three kids -- two daughters and one son. Before delivering their son, Mrs Ravi undertook 9 sex determination tests and had 8 pregnancies medically terminated. She died two days later after giving birth to their son.

Her doctor had advised her not to get pregnant as it could pose a threat to her life.'' What is wrong with having few girls? Replies Flavia Agnes, ''It reflects gender inequity in society, it leads to greater violence against the girl child. Already there are reports of bride burning, polyandry and kidnappings from districts where the sex ratio has fallen considerably and pre-birth elimination of girls is an inhuman act that is a gross violation of human rights.'' In the Indian context there is strong preference for sons. This preference is influenced by many socio-economic and cultural factors such as the son being responsible for carrying forward the family name and occupation. Sons are desired because they are considered a source of support during old age and for performing religious rites at the time of cremation and subsequently.

''The practice of dowry and daughters being viewed as 'paraya dhan (to be married and sent away)' is yet another reason why sons are preferred to daughters,'' rues Flavia Agnes.

UNI