PANEL ORGAN - KIIT University

worsened further by 18 points. Prior to the 1991 census, this ratio had fallen from 976 in
1961 to 964 in 1971 and 962 in 1981. A stage may soon come when it would become
extremely difficult, if not impossible, to make up for the missing girls. The declining child
sex ratio has already started showing its ramifications in states like Punjab, Haryana,
Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharastra, Tamilnadu and Himachal Pradesh. In states like
Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat, this ratio has declined to less than 800 girls per 1000 boys.
In Punjab itself the declining sex ratio has been resulted in practicing polyandry kind of
practices which further aggravates the vulnerability of Indian women. This is a true
picture of discrimination against girl child. Until and unless the missing numbers and the
resulting imbalance is checked, it will be destroying the social and human fabric. The
paper aims to have reflections on the socio-cultural factors contributing to the diminishing
ratio of girl child in India. The analysis will be made based on review of research literature
and census report from a regional perspective.
PANEL-07(B): GROWING UP: HOW GENDER PRAXIS PLAYS A ROLE
27 th November, 2012 Time: 10.30-13.00hrs Hall No.:
PANEL ORGANIZER
MARAK, Quinbala R, Department of Anthropology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong-
793022, Meghalaya, INDIA, E-mail:
PAPER PRESENTERS
HASAN, Rameeza
Madhab Choudhury College, Barpeta, Assam, India.Email:
Transcending Gender Stereotypes of Grief among Children
Although man is a mortal being, as the maxim states, fundamentally, emotionally man is
afraid of death. The fact that death is the greatest shock is deeply rooted in human
consciousness. The fears, hopes, and orientations people have towards it are not
instinctive, but rather are learned through the process of socialization. Every culture has a
coherent system of beliefs whose explanations and reactions to death are so thoroughly
ingrained that they are believed to be right by its members. Like all cultures the Assamese
Muslims inhabiting the state of Assam also exhibit gender stereotyping of grief as both
men and women are saddled with certain stereotypes. Men are expected to be tough,
confident, rational and in control, not only of themselves but of situations as well while
women, who have been socialized to be more open with their feelings tend to be intuitive
mourners. Death and the events surrounding it are understood differently depending on a
child's age and developmental stage. When someone dies; they will not experience or
express their reactions in the same way. A child’s responses will depend on the knowledge
and skills available to them at the time of the loss where the process of socialization will
play a vital role. In view of the aforesaid traits a study has been conducted among the
Assamese Muslim children who had experienced the death of a significant other (parent,
sibling, close relation, or peer). This study provides an anthropological insight into the role
of gender as an important influence on the death socialization of children and their
involvement in the various rituals related to death.
DOISIAMMOI, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India, E-mail:
The Past & the Present: The Case of Vaiphei Child Rearing Practices