I hope this Diwali had bring peace and happiness to all. Laxmi is the goddess that blesses all with wealth.
Last month I met an unusually financially competent lady who manages the business side of things for their family business. Her husband and her adult children speak to her often for advice on financial matters. It was a pleasure to listen to her financial abilities. I wished this was a more common occurrence and not a rare one. She is the Goddess Laxmi of her home and her home is financially very successful.
Last month a young woman was abandoned by her husband. He left her when she told him she was pregnant. The reason – he said he would rather not have the baby. She felt she could not terminate the pregnancy and went ahead and delivered a baby girl. She was very happy but he was not
He said he would have preferred a boy child. He left her and the baby girl without any support.
Is it really happening in Australia that certain people prefer boys over girls?
Unfortunately, yes it is true. The new figures released by UN Population Fund last month revealed that it is happening in Australia. The number of boys born to Australian-Chinese and Australian-Indian communities far exceeds that of the girl babies.
Normally, in nature for every 100 girls born there are slightly more boys born, around 102 -106. Anything above 106 indicates suggests sex preference by unnatural means is taking place meaning abortion of female babies.
The UNFPAs website on pre-natal sex preference lists some countries where this sex preference for male babies is practiced in the world — China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Albania and Montenegro.
The abnormal male to female ratio has reached the Asian diaspora in Europe and North America according to UNFPA website
In the years 2003 – 2013, in Australia for the general community there were 105.7 male children born for every 100 female children
For Chinese-born Australians there were 109.5 sons born for any 100 girls.For Indian born Australians the ratio was 108.2 boys for any 100 baby girls.
The numbers suggests there are some 1,400 fewer female babies than in general Australian communities.
UN population website shows the meaning of sex selection of babies in favour of boys. It is a symptom of social, cultural and economic injustices against women. It is also a violation of womens human rights.
Goddess Laxmi what is her relevance in our culture? Why do we pray to a female goddess but prepared to kill many others like her- women and girls and female babies .
The consequences of preference for male babies will be severe according to UN. An excess of men will cause major social problems.
One such consequence would be gender inequality. Domestic violence starts with gender inequality. This practice entrenches the deeply rooted attitudes of gender inequality and a climate of violence and discrimination against women and girls in society.
Present-day sex ratios in favour of boys, among children is going to have a lasting impact on population dynamics and marriage prospects.
The high numbers of men means that the number of single men trying to marry after 2030 will be in excess of women ready for marriage.
The expected economic and social costs of these trends are going to be negative, make it hard for societies. The effects will include the potential risks of human rights violations such as abduction of women, sex trafficking and sale of women and girls for the purposes of marriage according to the UN Population Fund website .
It is important we welcome Goddess Laxmi within our families by allowing the birth of female babies to take place. Girls bring joy and pleasure just like boys do. It is all in the thinking. We can change our thinking in favour of girls just like we do boys.