Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Deze scriptie biedt een overzicht van enkele van de belangrijkste analyses aangaande de ongelijke geboorte ratio in India. Met name in Noord India worden aanzienlijk meer jongens geboren dan...Show moreDeze scriptie biedt een overzicht van enkele van de belangrijkste analyses aangaande de ongelijke geboorte ratio in India. Met name in Noord India worden aanzienlijk meer jongens geboren dan meisjes, waarbij deze ratio in sterke mate afwijkt van degene die elders in de wereld voorkomt. De algemeen geaccepteerde aanname is, dat de grote mate van ongelijkheid een gevolg is van sexe selectieve abortus, die mogelijk is geworden nadat sekse determinatie technieken (vruchtwaterpunctie, echoscopie) hun intrede hebben gedaan. In aansluiting daarop, suggereren onderzoekers dat er vaak sprake is van verwaarlozing van vrouwelijke baby’s en kleuters, waardoor het sterftecijfer onder meisjes hoger is dan dat onder jongens.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
In Hindu North India marriage is a family-centred event. The vast majority of marriages is arranged, which means that family elders have an important input in the choice for a prospective spouse...Show moreIn Hindu North India marriage is a family-centred event. The vast majority of marriages is arranged, which means that family elders have an important input in the choice for a prospective spouse for their younger members. When arranging a marriage, the family seeks to form an alliance with another family with whom they share a number of characteristics and whose background is thus considered compatible in terms of caste, class and religion. Therefore, apart from the formation of new kinship ties, marriage is a crucial act in confirming and reproducing existing social and economic boundaries. However, the marital landscape appears to be changing as young individuals increasingly prefer what they label as love marriages. In this thesis I focus on how such love marriages are perceived amongst Hindus in North India and in which manner they differ from arranged marriages. Furthermore I look at how this increased preference for love marriages impacts local family and gender relations. I argue how love marriages are not dichotomous to arranged marriages but instead show a lot of overlap. I show how not only young individuals, but their family elders and close kin as well creatively invent strategies in order to adapt marriages to the changing socio-economic circumstances.Show less
