Abstract

Gendercide, defined as the aggregate of the incidences of female feticide and female infanticide, has repercussions on the health of developing nations such as China and India. The practice of gendercide prevails because of deep-seated, cultural patriarchal values that minimize the worth of women, and is manifested in China and India’s male-to-female sex ratios of 119:100 and 122:100, respectively. Although these gender ratios directly impact the countries that practice gendercide, the effects transcend borders. The negative consequences of this practice are associated with female health and include complications arising from abortion. Not only does this practice terminate the lives of millions of females, but it will also leave a large proportion of men in both China and India unmarried in the near future. The surplus of single men will contribute to an increase in violence-related deaths and injuries, as well as sex trafficking activity. In addition, gendercide will impact health locally and globally, through escalated rates of morbidity and mortality from disease, in particular HIV/AIDS. The origins and consequences of gendercide underscore the influence of local cultural practices on global health.