Cultural Constraints to Girl Child's Right to Health and Nutrition

Abstract

The present paper attempts in examining cultural constraints by identifying the deprivation of girl child in terms of health and nutrition, which begins from her family and continues at the community level at large. India in general and Uttar Pradesh in particular is conspicuous for gender bias practices till date including in the areas of health and nutrition. Birth of a girl child is either not celebrated or if at all celebrated than with minimum rituals. Harmful traditional practices perpetuate deprivation of girl child in getting proper nutrition and health care. In this study, the indicators taken into consideration are initiation of breast feeding, exclusive breastfeeding throughout the frst 6 months, clothing and birth ceremony for examining denial of girl child's right to health and nutrition as cultural constraint.