GID-DB variables: son bias

The Gender, Institutions and Development Database (GID-DB) is the only database providing researchers and policymakers with key data on gender-based discrimination in social institutions. Covering 160 countries, the GID-DB contains comprehensive information on legal, cultural and traditional practices that discriminate against women and girls. The GID-DB covers five sub-indices including son bias.

This sub-index captures unequal intra-household investments in caring for, nurturing and allocating resources to sons and daughters reflecting the lower value given to girls. A family preference for sons over daughters can manifest itself in different ways, including higher mortality, worse health status or lower educational attainment among girls. Consequences of social norms and practices that devalue daughters are various: missing women, under-investment in the health and nutrition of girls leading to infant mortality, under-investment in girls’ education, etc.

The GID-DB includes the following variables under the son bias sub-index:

• Missing women
• Fertility preferences
• Son Preference in Education

See the enitre GID-DB here

Learn about the other sub-indices:

• Discriminatory family code
• Restricted physical integrity
• Restricted resources and assets
• Restricted civil liberties