Son preference persists in South Asian patrilineal and patriarchal societies where practices of sex-selective abortions are used to ensure the maximum number of male children. Such practices cannot be understood without analysing socio-economic conditions that foster son preference. This article highlights the strategic importance of sons in rural Pakistan by analysing 30 semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions with women. I take into account the prevalent perception of men as breadwinners and argue that even if men do not fulfil this role, they are considered precious due to other factors, e.g., family’s future security, social protection and maintenance of kinship ties. The family faces the threat of discontinuity of lineage in the absence of a male child even if it has daughters. While the girl child is also useful for the family, particularly when she supports her mother, cultural and social expectations attached to the male child make him invaluable.

中文翻译：

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社会保障或文化福利

在南亚父系和父系社会中，男孩偏好仍然存在，在这些社会中，性别选择性堕胎的做法被用来确保最大数量的男孩。如果不分析培养重男轻女的社会经济条件，就无法理解这种做法。本文通过分析 30 次半结构化访谈和与妇女进行的三个焦点小组讨论，强调了儿子在巴基斯坦农村的战略重要性。我考虑到男性是养家糊口的普遍看法，并认为即使男性没有履行这一角色，由于其他因素，例如家庭未来的安全、社会保护和亲属关系的维持，他们也被认为是宝贵的。在没有男孩的情况下，即使有女儿，这个家庭也面临着血统不连续的威胁。