For long, sociologists have warned of the dire consequences of an increasingly
skewed sex ratio. A falling sex ratio is a cumulative process which could lead to
more crimes and violence against women. Without enough brides, men would be
forced to purchase wives leading to human trafficking. This, in turn, would lead
to insecure parents resorting to even more female foeticide and keeping girls
indoors out of fear of their protection. In the long run all the gains made in pushing
for greater female literacy and empowerment could be undone.