Sex selection and sex-selective abortion

Abstract

The recent media scandal surrounding sex-selective abortions has implied that UK ‘South Asians’ are seeking, and being provided with, sex-selective abortions. Certain clinics offering abortion are currently under investigation. It will be argued that any investigation of this issue should: (a) objectively consider the veracity of the allegations; (b) seek to cultivate an understanding of why sex-selective abortion may be occurring amongst those of Punjabi ethnicity (namely, son preference), in order to determine whether further restrictions on abortion will be effective in preventing sex-selective abortions or whether they will actually encourage a detrimental and damaging view of women, thus perpetuating the reasons for seeking sex-selective abortion; (c) consider the extent to which the Indian Government was successful in dealing with sex-selective abortions and (d) assess the extent to which son preference is manifested in the United Kingdom and amongst whom. It will be argued that prohibition is unjustifiable in the United Kingdom as: the procedure may legitimately fall within the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; son preference is generally much weaker amongst women of Punjabi ethnicity born and raised in the United Kingdom and restrictions on abortion affirm an image of women as unable to take responsibility for their own selves, which is central to maintaining son preference, thus further underpinning the reasons why sex-selective abortion is sought in the first place.