bbc.com
Indian Baby Girl Found Buried Alive Fights for Survival
A 20-day-old baby girl, found buried alive in Uttar Pradesh, India, is critically ill but receiving treatment; police are investigating, but similar cases highlight India's skewed gender ratio and societal preference for sons.
- What broader societal factors contribute to such incidents of female infanticide in India?
- The incident is linked to India's skewed sex ratio, stemming from a societal preference for sons. This preference leads to female infanticide and foeticide, with girls seen as a financial burden, particularly among poorer communities. The practice is widespread, despite being illegal.
- What is the immediate condition and prognosis of the baby girl found buried alive in Uttar Pradesh?
- The 20-day-old baby is in critical condition in a neonatal intensive care unit, suffering from hypoxia, insect bites, animal bites, and an infection. While showing minor initial improvement, her condition has since deteriorated, and the prognosis is grave, though doctors are trying to save her.
- What are the implications of this event and similar cases concerning future efforts to address gender inequality in India?
- This case highlights the ongoing challenges in combating gender inequality and the persistence of harmful practices like female infanticide in India. It underscores the need for continued efforts in raising awareness, enforcing existing laws against sex-selective abortion, and tackling societal biases against girls.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a fairly neutral account of the incident, focusing on the baby's condition and the efforts to save her. The mention of India's skewed gender ratio and the societal preference for sons is presented as context to the crime, rather than as a primary focus or accusation. However, the repeated emphasis on the baby being female and the inclusion of past similar cases might subtly reinforce the narrative of female infanticide in India.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective, focusing on factual descriptions of the baby's condition and the events. While terms like "fighting for survival" and "grave prognosis" convey seriousness, they avoid overly sensational or emotionally charged language. The use of quotes from medical professionals lends further objectivity.
Bias by Omission
The article omits information about the ongoing police investigation, including any leads or potential suspects. While this may be due to the ongoing nature of the investigation and limitations of information at the time of reporting, this absence of details might prevent a complete understanding of the situation and the motives behind the crime. Additionally, the article doesn't delve into the specifics of the social and economic factors contributing to female infanticide in India beyond a brief mention of the preference for sons.
Gender Bias
While the article highlights the fact that the victim is a baby girl and mentions the societal preference for sons as a contributing factor, it doesn't present gender-specific language or stereotypes. The focus remains on the baby's condition and the efforts to save her life. However, the repetition of the baby's gender could be seen as subtle reinforcement of the tragic reality of female infanticide in India.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a case of female infanticide in India, stemming from a cultural preference for sons. This directly relates to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), specifically targets focusing on ending all forms of discrimination against girls and women and ensuring girls