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EXPOSING THE MYTHS OF MUSLIM FERTILITY: Gender and Religion in a
Resettlement Colony of Delhi, Sabiha Hussain
[C.W.D.S,
New Delhi, 2008]
 As a consequence of the politicisatton of
religion in India, the study of religious differentials in
fertility and family planning is a highly sensitive issue. Not
just the popular media but even scholarship has been
instrumental in fomenting ideas about the alarming growth of the
Muslim population due to Islamic beliefs and practices. Thus,
the communalisation of the population debate has made any
discussion of the reproductive practices of Muslims both highly
contentious and deeply confused.
This comparative study of two religious communities, Hindu and
Muslim, in one of Delhi's slums throws considerable light
on their reproductive behavior by going beyond commonly held
stereotypes. It begins by exploring whether religious
differences override the commonalities of gender class and
socio-economic status. The exact nature and extent of
differences between these two communities is carefully analysed
drawing on aspects of women’s health, marriage practices, child
mortality, migration, education and work patterns. Existing
theories in the vast demographic literature, especially on there
relationships between religion and fertility, are also,
explored.
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