Gender bias and the "marriage squeeze" in China South Korea and India 1920-1990: the effects of war famine and fertility decline.

This study examined the extent of gender bias against females in China South Korea and India as well as the impact of war famine and fertility decline and explored how the marriage market has been affected by Caldwells "marriage squeeze." The three countries differ in whether girls are considered a surplus or a shortage. The study also examined trends in spousal availability and the social implications for dowry for poorer people and women. Data were obtained from recent national population censuses of China South Korea and India. An index developed by Coale and Banister (1994) was used to calculate the observed sex ratio of each single year birth cohort and a masculinity measure. China and South Korea showed a cumulative loss of females which is attributed to sex selective abortion female infanticide and discrimination against girls. In India age reporting problems necessitate the use of the juvenile (aged 0-4) sex ratio during 1951-91. The changes over time in spousal availability resemble models by Tuljapurkar et al. (1995) and Park and Cho (1995). The "normal" ratios of males to younger females is calculated to show what would happen without discrimination. The difference between the observed and the normal ratio is the estimated effect of gender bias on spousal availability. India has had the quietest history. South Korea experienced the Korean War and a rise in discrimination. China has had the most disruptions from war invasions and famine which has resulted in increased proportions of "missing" girls. China has a surplus of men. India has a surplus of women and a shift to dowry. Brideprice continues to be practiced in China because of shortages of women. Shortages of women may lead to families trying harder not to lose a wife and make the poor less likely to marry. Male surpluses may lead to less dowry violence and ill treatment of women.