Want
to start a heated argument? Bring up abortion. That’s exactly what Canadian
doctor Rajendra Kale did in an editorial for the Canadian Medical Association
Journal (CMAJ), where he claimed that ethnic groups are responsible for the
high number of gender-based abortions in Canada.
Dr.
Kale used his editorial to urge Canadian doctors not to reveal the sex of a
child until 30 weeks into the pregnancy. He claims that this will curb the high
rate of sex-based abortions, which are popular among certain minority groups in
Canada, mainly Chinese and Indian communities.
“I
think female feticide is discrimination against women in the most extreme form
and this is something that needs to be stopped,” Dr. Kale says. “We need to
make it clear that it is not acceptable in Canada.”
Since
the controversial editorial hit doctor’s desks and newsstands on January 16, he
has been replaced as editor of the publication.
Canada
has a high immigration rate from Eastern, patriarchal societies, where cultures
value boys more than girls. Since China introduced its one-child policy in
1979, it has been common in China to favour baby boys. Males are thought to be
more able to care for themselves in life and do not require an expensive dowry,
which can be a financial burden for families. According to DiscoveryNews.com,
currently 95 per cent of children in Chinese orphanages are girls, and there is
a major imbalance in China’s male-to-female ratio. A study conducted by the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences predicts that China could have as many as 24
million bachelors by 2020 because of the distinct lack of females in the
country.
There
is a similar situation in India, where pro-life activist, Lila Rose, claims
that tax benefits are given to families who will have baby girls. In April, the
Economist reported
that there are only 914 girls for every 1000 boys in the 0 – 6 age bracket in
India: “A cultural preference for sons and the increasing availability of
prenatal screening to determine a baby’s sex have helped contribute to a
worsening in the ratio of men to women,” writes the Economist.
Dr.
Kale is basing his information primarily on census data. The study suggests
that if an Indian who immigrates to Canada births two females, then the third
child is more likely to be a male. The results were compared to recent census
data in Canada, and major discrepancies were found. This, claims Dr. Kale, is
evidence of sex-based abortions performed in Canada, even though there is no
concise statistics of gender-based abortions in Canada as of yet. He also used
research from the U.S., where in a study of 65 Indian immigrants, 40 per cent
had aborted a female fetus. Of those that were currently pregnant with a girl,
up to 90 per cent of them entertained the idea of an abortion at one point.
Since
its publication, Dr. Kale’s editorial has received international attention and
criticism. The main criticism is that Dr. Kale’s recommendation isn’t a viable
option, and not disclosing the sex of the fetus is impractical and carries
ethical issues. While knowing the gender of your child is not a fundamental
right, people have become accustomed to having the option, and it’s one that
would outrage the public if it were to be taken away.
Various
technologies have been making it easier for people to know the sex of their
baby within the last few decades. Ultrasounds are relatively inexpensive, and
blood tests are easily conducted. In Australia, home sex-kits can tell you the
sex of your child in the comfort of your own home. In India, revealing the sex
of an unborn child was banned in 1994 to help curb female feticide; however,
sex-based abortions still occur in high numbers. With the technology available,
there is no way to stop people from knowing the sex of their child in utero.
History
of prohibiting abortion has shown that putting restrictions on abortions drives
the practice underground, where sanitary guidelines aren’t strictly enforced,
increasing the danger to the mother. According to guttmacher.org, there were
47,000 deaths due to unsafe abortions in 2008, and complications from
underground abortions cause 13 per cent of all maternal deaths, even when
clinical abortions are legal.
Also,
as pointed out in the Globe and Mail, a nationwide ban against knowing the gender of a
baby isn’t needed, as it’s only a common practice among certain ethnic groups.
However, restricting the rights from certain cultural groups is discrimination
and racism. Canada is a nation that prides itself on being multicultural and
non-discriminatory based on ethnicity. Adding restrictions on abortions only
for women from Eastern cultures would cause a political uproar.
Dr.
Kale’s editorial stirred up a subject that the public doesn’t often talk about.
In general, Canadians shy away from sensitive topics, abortion and cultural customs
included, for fear of being offensive. Not talking or recognizing these issues is
not going to make them go away. Dr. Kale might not have a reasonable solution
to sex-based abortion, but he at least got us talking about it.
//Leah Schietel, writer
//Graphics by Alexandra Gordeyeva
//Leah Schietel, writer
//Graphics by Alexandra Gordeyeva
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