Where have all the girls gone? That鈥檚 what 91亚色 Professor Sharada Srinivasan examines in her new book, Daughter Deficit: Sex Selection in Tamil Nadu, about the elimination of daughters in India聽through sex selection, female infanticide and neglect.

It is neither an aberration nor an idiosyncrasy. It accounts for a large proportion of missing girls in India, says Srinivasan, so much so that the proportion of boys to girls in the zero to six age group聽is 1,000 to 826.

Daughter Deficit (Women Unlimited) will launch Wednesday, March 7, from 2:30 to 4:30pm, in the Senior Common Room, 010 Vanier College, Keele campus. Everyone is welcome to attend and light refreshments will be provided.

The book explores the issue of girls who are denied the right to live or to be born in India, and it asks why and how such a situation has come about, says Srinivasan. In Tamil Nadu, the practice of eliminating daughters is more recent, and not as severe as in northern India 鈥� it is a state that sits between the northern and southern Indian states and has implemented programs to prevent the practice. And, although it may seem economic or socio-cultural at first glance, Srinivasan says it is a much deeper issue.

Sharada Srinivasan

A professor of International Development Studies in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Srinivasan examines the issue from the context of women鈥檚 lives, unraveling the causes of daughter elimination and the mechanisms which create and sustain an environment in which this is imaginable. Reflecting on the way ahead, the book concludes that even as public policies can and should play a decisive role in reversing the immediate outcomes in favour of daughters, an environment favourable to daughters will need fundamental changes in social norms, attitudes and policies of governments and non-governmental organizations.

The launch is sponsored by the Office of the Dean,聽Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, International Development Studies, the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on the Global Migration of African Peoples, the Alliance Against Modern Slavery and the 91亚色 Bookstore.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

The post Professor Sharada Srinivasan's new book examines sex selection and female infanticide in India appeared first on Research & Innovation.

The fair showcases a diverse range of vendors selling fair and sustainable products, including arts and crafts, clothing, coffee and chocolate. The event also serves as a forum for faculty, staff and students who are interested in learning more about fair trade. 聽

What is fair trade?

On its website, describes fair trade as a 鈥渨ay for all of us to identify products that meet our values so we can make choices that have a positive impact on the world.鈥�

Over the years,聽the University has pursued a number of fair trade endeavours. 聽聽

91亚色's own Las Nubes coffee (fair trade, organic and shade grown) is served at聽nine locations on both campuses. To know more about the Las Nubes project, visit the 飞别产蝉颈迟别.听

Right:聽91亚色's Las Nubes coffee is聽shade grown in Costa Rica

Fair trade coffee and Rainforest Alliance tea is served at most coffee shops at 91亚色 and can be ordered for catering. A number of campus locations serve fair trade coffee. The locations are:聽the Central Square Cafeteria, TEL Building Caf茅, Winters Cafeteria, Stong Cafeteria, Freshii, the Osgoode Bistro, Glendon Caf茅, Glendon Eurobaguette, and the Graduate Student Lounge.

The 91亚色 Bookstore now sells fair trade 91亚色 t-shirts (which is a first for Canadian universities).聽The bookstore will be selling t-shirts at the fair.聽To learn more about the Bookstore's fair trade t-shirt initiative,聽see YFile, Oct. 11, 2011.

Left: The 91亚色 Bookstore sells fair trade t-shirts

91亚色 students have also demonstrated leadership in fair trade. The 91亚色 Federation of Students Is committed to the Canadian Federation of Students Students for Sustainability campaign and is an active participant in many social justice and sustainability events and campaigns. As well, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) is a co-sponsor of聽Thursday's Fair Trade Fair and can be contacted by sending an e-mail to opirg@yorku.ca.

Coming in early 2012, 91亚色聽 University will also be launching its聽new Sustainability Ambassadors program. To learn more, visit the President's Sustainability Council website or e-mail sustainability@yorku.ca.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

The post Learn more about fair trade this Thursday appeared first on Research & Innovation.