The Value of Sons in an Indian Village: How Widows See It

Abstract

In a micro-study in rural India the old-age security motive for high fertility among widows, who are generally considered to be a particularly vulnerable group was investigated. Thirty of the 123 village widows, representing different economic situations and living arrangements, were selected for in-depth interviews. Comparisons were made between widows who were primary breadwinners and had dependent sons living with them, widows who lived with earning sons but were not totally dependent on them; and widows who resided with and were economically dependent on their sons, as well as those who lived with their daughters. Economic factors alone did not account for the pervasive son-preference in the community: sons had a deeper cultural significance which persisted even when widows were financially well-off or independent. It is argued that the emphasis given to economic explanations in previous fertility research has masked the importance of cultural factors which still remain largely unexplored.