Perceived Benefits and Costs of Raising Children in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

In the present study an attempt has been made to examine the values attributed to sons and daughters as well as perceived costs involved in raising them. These were assessed by means of open ended questions. Stratified random sampling was employed to select a sample of 308 married women, in the age group of 25-50 years from the rural area of H imachal Pradesh. The continuation of family line has come out to be the most important reason given by the majority of respondents for sons, indicating significant cultural importance. On the contrary, majority of the women valued daughters for psychological reasons. However, not much difference was observed regarding the cost involved in raising both sons and daughters. Although 44. 16 per cent of respondents were found to be more concerned about their daughters' marriage and saving money for their dowry.