Socio-Cultural Implications of Son Preference: A Case of Danyor, Gilgit

The study deals with the dilemma of son preference and its causes and consequences. The fieldwork was conducted in village 'Danyor' in Gilgit-Baltistan, for the period of six months. Socio-economic survey was conducted from seventy-five households, detailed in-depth interviews were taken from thirty respondents in addition to 35 case studies. The field findings revealed the prevailing perceptions are sons as powerful and socially strong, owner and successor of family property, old age security for parents, symbol of prestige, custodian of family strength and honor etc. On the contrary, daughters are considered as burden of dowry and financial dependency on parents. The study concludes that son preference results in many discriminatory practices against female child such as abortion of female fetus, high infant mortality, lower status of daughters bearing mother in the family, short birth spacing, high probability of husband's remarriage and increased chances of being divorced.