GEOG 1HA3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Bride Burning, Infant Mortality, Patrilocal Residence
Document Summary
Increased population could be detrimental to india environmentally, and culturally. There is currently a fertility phenomenon associated with the cultural traditions regarding marriage and family dynamics. It has come to the point where young brides are begging doctors to be sterilized, and putting their health at risk with illegal abortions. It seems that for birth rates to decrease, a transformation in gender relations must occur, and the lives of women must improve. Traditionally in india, women are married at ages as young as fifteen. Southern india has done well with introducing birth control and access to family planning, but often, wives are the least involved, and have the smallest amount of control over their reproductive lives. Indian doctors, husbands and mothers in law are referred to as the gate keepers to health care access. They can permit these young women from gaining or denying access to health maintenance. Wives often are given the least amount of respect, culturally.