In a male-child obsessed India, a Kerala daily tells you how to conceive a boy

In a country like ours, where female goddesses are worshipped, it still makes no sense why a male child is so passionately favoured. Maybe just to carry forward the family name or in the hopes of having a support in the old age--Indian parents make no bones when it comes to preferring one gender over the other.

However, with time we expect the society to evolve. Think more rationally perhaps, and give up on nonsensical biases. Sadly, this doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon. Recently, a Malayalam daily printed an article with the headline 'Want to conceive a male child? Here are some tricks'. No, we are not kidding. They really did.

Interestingly, the daily claimed that these tricks were scientifically proven. Let's just take a moment here to let the absurdity of it settle in. The truth is there really is no existing scientific research that backs such claims.

Moreover, the suggested tips were not only irrational but totally absurd. Women's features website The Ladies Finger  translated this article and published it on their website. And you wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry at the tips. For instance, one is not allowed to skip breakfast if she is expecting to conceive a male child. OK! You if you want a girl child, then you surely can. We're not certain this will not solve the purpose, but it will help the women's metabolism function better.

Also read: In a case of sexist science, study on male contraceptive shots shelved because it caused mood swings

Next, eat a lot. We are still wondering how this would help. Anyway, moving on--couples are suggested to include mutton, dry grapes and salty food in their diet. We will not even try to come up with a logical explanation for this. But, this one trumps all: women are advised to sleep with their faces turned left while facing west. Seriously, no amount of sleeping pills will help you snooze in such an uncomfortable sleeping position.

While we may ridicule this terrible feature and laugh it off, the mentality behind this article is no laughing matter.

According to a census conducted in 2011, there are only 940 girls born to every 1,000 boys, each year. The ratio is not only lop-sided but also a cause of major social problems prevalent in the country. It's high time we move on from this crazed obsession and give girls a chance to live and thrive. Patriarchy will be surprised at the wonders they will witness.