This film discusses the consequences of India's dowry system, and China's expectations on boys to continue family lines and supporting their parents as they get older. In both situations females are often looked upon as burdens, and executed in favor of having boys. For India, its the fear of having to pay a dowry to the families of the husband, and in China its the one child household law (intended to control the population).
It's a Girl! has only one interest: Exposing these practices with the hopes of serving as a call to action for viewers. To think that atrocities such as a mother--featured in the doc--openly discussing how she's murdered eight of her own children (all daughters) because she wanted a son, is almost impossible to fathom.
The film focuses on a number of families and individuals who've been directly affected by these practices, and their stories are devastating. From women who openly consider the burden of having a daughter, to others who fight and hide from the government so they can have their child without being forced to abort it, It's a Girl! takes a definitive "this is bad" stance, as it should.
Where the film falls short, however, is in the actual examination of why and how these practices came to be. Whether it be religion, culture, or government, failing to take that deeper look prevents the message from having the gravitas it needs to resonate beyond that, "well isn't that horrible" feeling. Instead it leaves the desire for wealth to shoulder the blame, and I can't help but feel like there is a lot more to the story than that.
As the father of a little girl, I still found It's a Girl! incredibly jarring, and many of the stories tough to stomach. Here's hoping that someday those cultures will figure out that all humans are equal, regardless of their gender.
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