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| India newspaper offers 'tips' for conceiving a baby boy | India newspaper offers 'tips' for conceiving a baby boy |
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| A newspaper in India has offered its readers scientifically unfounded tips for ensuring they conceive boys instead of girls, telling would-be mothers to eat lots and face west while sleeping. | A newspaper in India has offered its readers scientifically unfounded tips for ensuring they conceive boys instead of girls, telling would-be mothers to eat lots and face west while sleeping. |
| The sex of a child is determined chromosomes in the father's sperm. | The sex of a child is determined chromosomes in the father's sperm. |
| But the daily newspaper Mangalam, in Kerala state in southern India, printed six suggestions for those who want to have baby boys. | But the daily newspaper Mangalam, in Kerala state in southern India, printed six suggestions for those who want to have baby boys. |
| There is a cultural preference for male children in India. | There is a cultural preference for male children in India. |
| "The chance of a girl or a boy at conception is totally random," said Dr Shazia Malik, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at The Portland Hospital in London, debunking the article. | "The chance of a girl or a boy at conception is totally random," said Dr Shazia Malik, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at The Portland Hospital in London, debunking the article. |
| "There is no scientific evidence on any method that will change this statistical chance when a baby is conceived naturally." | "There is no scientific evidence on any method that will change this statistical chance when a baby is conceived naturally." |
| Mangalam, which filed the story in the health news section of its site, also advises potential mothers-to-be not to skip breakfast and to have sex only on certain days of the week, when the male sperm is "stronger". It said men can play a role and help strengthen their sperm by avoiding acidic foods. | Mangalam, which filed the story in the health news section of its site, also advises potential mothers-to-be not to skip breakfast and to have sex only on certain days of the week, when the male sperm is "stronger". It said men can play a role and help strengthen their sperm by avoiding acidic foods. |
| But the strength of a sperm does not affect the baby's sex. The only way a baby can be male is if the fertilising sperm carries a Y chromosome. | But the strength of a sperm does not affect the baby's sex. The only way a baby can be male is if the fertilising sperm carries a Y chromosome. |
| Feminist Indian website The Ladies Finger translated the article from the original Malayalam language, which is spoken in Kerala. | |
| "With all these inconvenient laws regarding sex determination, it is a relief that there is finally a fool-proof checklist to follow for boy-bearing," The Ladies Finger site wrote, sarcastically. | "With all these inconvenient laws regarding sex determination, it is a relief that there is finally a fool-proof checklist to follow for boy-bearing," The Ladies Finger site wrote, sarcastically. |
| Tests to determine a foetus' sex are illegal in India, but that does not stop them taking place and leading to sex-selective abortions. | Tests to determine a foetus' sex are illegal in India, but that does not stop them taking place and leading to sex-selective abortions. |
| In 1961, there were 976 girls for every 1,000 boys under the age of seven. According to the latest census figures, released in 2011, that figure had dropped to 914. | In 1961, there were 976 girls for every 1,000 boys under the age of seven. According to the latest census figures, released in 2011, that figure had dropped to 914. |
| Gita Aravamudan, Indian author of Disappearing Daughters: The Tragedy of Female Foeticide, said Mangalam's article is not likely to have a major impact, especially as it is written in a minority language, but it is one of many articles, "remedies" and old wives' tales that offer ways to avoid having a female baby. | Gita Aravamudan, Indian author of Disappearing Daughters: The Tragedy of Female Foeticide, said Mangalam's article is not likely to have a major impact, especially as it is written in a minority language, but it is one of many articles, "remedies" and old wives' tales that offer ways to avoid having a female baby. |
| "This article is even more ridiculous than usual, but such ideas are common," she told the BBC. | "This article is even more ridiculous than usual, but such ideas are common," she told the BBC. |
| "It shows that attitudes like this still flourish despite initiatives taken by the Indian government, NGOs and health workers. The message isn't going through: people still value boys more than girls." | "It shows that attitudes like this still flourish despite initiatives taken by the Indian government, NGOs and health workers. The message isn't going through: people still value boys more than girls." |
| The preference for boys is longstanding in some cultures, and often comes from men being seen as the stronger sex and financial providers for families, especially during parents' old age. | The preference for boys is longstanding in some cultures, and often comes from men being seen as the stronger sex and financial providers for families, especially during parents' old age. |
| In India, dowries, paid when girls eventually marry, are also seen as a high cost that could be avoided. | In India, dowries, paid when girls eventually marry, are also seen as a high cost that could be avoided. |