"Underlying the widespread problem of sex-selective abortions in India is the puzzling fact that daughters have become vulnerable in a time of general improvement in welfare, female status and dramatic economic and social changes. The findings in this book are centred on a contradiction between the continued importance of the cultural factors which for so long have established that a son is necessary, and socio-economic changes that are challenging the foundations for these very factors. This contradiction entails an uncertainty over sons fulfilling expectations which has -- instead of [tilting] the balance in favour of daughters -- increased the relative importance of sons and intensified negative consequences for daughters"--Publisher.