According to an Indian Finance Ministry report, the preference to have sons instead of daughters has created an estimated 21 million 'unwanted' girls in India.
While tests to determine the gender of a feotus are still illegal in India, the report has found the preference for sons still leads to sex-selective abortions and greater care being given to male infants.
This cultural preference has led newspapers to publish scientifically unfounded tips for conceiving boys, including facing west while sleeping, with many couples continuing to have children until they conceive a male.