Back to browse results
The Sex of Firstborn Children and Intimate Partner Violence in India
Authors: Abigail Weitzman
Source: Violence Against Women, Online first; DOI: 10.1177/1077801219833823
Topic(s): Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
Son preference
Country: Asia
  India
Published: MAR 2019
Abstract: This article investigates the effects of firstborn sex on intimate partner violence (IPV) in India, taking into account heterogeneity across state sex ratios and maternal education. In states with masculine sex ratios of first births, firstborn daughters are found to elevate the risk and severity of IPV. The effects of firstborn daughters on sexual IPV are particularly pronounced among uneducated women in these states. These findings suggest that amid son preference at low birth orders, the sex of firstborn children can contribute to violence against mothers, providing new insights into the household reproduction of gender discrimination and violence.