Changes in the differential treatment of Rajput girls in Khalapur: 1955-1975.

ABSTRACT

PIP This article reports on data collected during 2 field trips to Khalapur. The 1st, 1954-55, focused on child rearing. The 2nd, 1974-75, focused on changes in the status of Rajput women. In 1955, neglect of girls, particularly those suffering from longterm illness, resulted in sufficient female mortality to produce a striking preponderance of boys. In 1975, the number of children in the original families sampled had increased from 128 to 250, a rise of 277% in total number of living offspring. In the 1975 sample, 45% were girls. The factors that contributed to this increase in viability of daughters are examined. The overall health of the children had improved from the 50s to the 70s. The improvement in health may be linked to better nutrition and preventive medicine and to the presence of a government sponsored village health center. In 1975, the village had also acquired a semi-skilled midwife. Mothers' reports indicate that there is a 10% difference in the use of this more highly paid midwife to deliver boys. Education emerges as another important factor. In 1975, 75% of Rajput girls between 6-20 were literate or in school, a dramatic 61% increase from the 14% reported in 1955. Moreover, all of the children of educated mothers were in school. The increase in school enrollment figures reflect this improvement in girls' education. Norms for early marriage present strong barriers for college education of women. The greater education of Khalapur women seems to have emerged from the increased education of men. Educated men prefer literate wives. Therefore education becomes an asset in arranging a good marriage for daughters. The government has encouraged education and has facilitated that of girls by not requiring them to pay tuition in elementary school. Despite the obvious improvement in the treatment of girls, some evidence of differential neglect persists. Nonetheless, for the Khalapur Rajput, the overall picture is one of optimism. Finally, it is argued that in view of the extensive literature on the rare practice of female infanticide, it is somewhat surprising that indirect female infanticide from medical and nutritional neglect of girls, has received little attention, since indirect infanticide is probably more widespread and frequent.^ieng