ABSTRACT
In South Asia, unsafe abortions, sex-selective abortions, lack of access to contraceptives, and domestic violence are among the myriad of health-related issues that continue unabated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an unsafe abortion is the “terminati[on] of an unintended pregnancy by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking the minimal medical standards, or both” (World Health Organization, 2007). Limited access to safe abortions is also associated with a high maternal mortality rate. In India, the problem is complicated by an elevated preference for male children that has also resulted in laws precluding sex-selective abortion. While access to safe abortions and regulation of sex-selective abortions may appear as distinct issues, they revolve around fleeting expressions of female autonomy. To date, however, no study has adequately explored the cultural (and specifically, religious) determinants to promote female empowerment.
