#SelfieWithDaughter Campaign Sweeps India

Samantha Reinis / July 06, 2015

A hashtag has ignited a social media movement to promote the status of women and influence how many Indian families view having a daughter.

Concerns over India’s growing population of almost 1.3 billion people has led to an imbalance of gender through the use of local sterilization quotas along with sex-selective abortion and infanticide. These two practices of aborting or killing baby girls are also called “gendercide.”

There is a prevailing social emphasis in India on not only having a small family, but one that includes a son. With the expanding technology of ultrasounds, many couples are picking their ideal child, which in most cases means life for a boy and death for a girl. If the current sex ratios remain constant, by the year 2029 India will have lost 10 million girls from this practice of gendercide.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to address this issue on his monthly radio program “Mann Ki Baat” on June 28th by starting a social media campaign called #SelfiewithDaughter.

I urge all of you, share a #SelfieWithDaughter. Also share a tagline that will encourage ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ : PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 28, 2015

The response in India was widespread and immediate, with many sharing family pictures and telling the world just how much their daughter meant to them.

And here’s my #SelfieWithDaughter . My Daughter, My Pride! #betibachaobetipadhao pic.twitter.com/csPNDWq1SZ — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) June 28, 2015

Thanx to @narendramodi for great campaign #SelfieWithDaughter.Two year ago,we were no hope 4 her survival but c did. pic.twitter.com/I6gVcaIitj

— LALIT K VATSA (@lalit04119) June 29, 2015

Daughters are a blessing and I am blessed…. #SelfieWithDaughter pic.twitter.com/ECf9fphEhu — RAJNIESH 19 (@rajniesh19) June 29, 2015

Had to wait for 52 years for her arrival into our lives. @PragyanM is our daughter in Law! #SelfieWithDaughter pic.twitter.com/kRi3yFRLCH

— Raghunath AS (@asraghunath) June 29, 2015

Love the #SelfieWithDaughter campaign. My selfie with my daughter Yashasvini @narendramodi. #BetiBachaoBetiPadhao pic.twitter.com/gbbaBlsuj2 — Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) June 29, 2015

#SelfieWithDaughter here it is to the best relationship.. pic.twitter.com/q1BcEAGOkn

— Rubika Liyaquat (@RubikaLiyaquat) June 28, 2015

@narendramodi Sir #SelfieWithDaughter on her 1st day to school!!! pic.twitter.com/vG5hHkuDwx — Shazli Ahmed Khan (@ShazliAhmedKhan) June 28, 2015

PM of India @narendramodi: TY for #SelfieWithDaughter. When you raise a daughter, you raise a nation! pic.twitter.com/E3RrjfLpnQ

— Filiberto Gonzalez (@gofiliberto) June 28, 2015

Daughter holds our hand for a while but heart forever. Blessed to be gifted with daughters. #SelfieWithDaughter pic.twitter.com/fNu9IRBqzm — Shankar Chaudhary (@ChaudhryShankar) June 28, 2015

#SelfieWithDaughter @narendramodi ji, here is my daughter Vipanchi Simha pic.twitter.com/Hf4MLSKQBj

— Pratap Simha (@mepratap) June 28, 2015

#selfiewithdaughter @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/oDHQK9VccK — Be the Change (@GaurUjjwal) June 28, 2015

The movement even went global, with supporters all over the world hoping to help elevate the status of women through the example of their own daughters.

Supporting from Sweden. #SelfieWithDaughter My everything in life. pic.twitter.com/u9y1knYV4M

— SwedishRacing (@Swedish_Racing) June 28, 2015

Love India PM’s concept of #SelfieWithDaughter. Very proud of my daughter, Kathleen. Photo @FourSeasons Thailand! pic.twitter.com/MET01FJWWE — Jim Byers (@JimByersTravel) June 28, 2015

Hello new friends from #India! Heading to give a #baking class on biscuit making with my girl. #selfiewithdaughter pic.twitter.com/PSvsJ1YVSj

— Cristen?Food & Swine (@FoodSwineIowa) June 28, 2015

Supporting from the USA. Gender Equality Matters #SelfieWithDaughter pic.twitter.com/SWSpwEeXsq — Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) June 30, 2015

While some critics of Modi say that this social media campaign was solely for political purposes, the prime minister’s blog claims that “Empowerment of women has been an issue on which PM attaches vital importance … [and] proactive steps have been taken for women empowerment be it in educating the girl child, maternal health, improving gender ratio and women’s safety.”

Amazed by the fantastic response to #SelfieWithDaughter. Its remarkable how people across the world have chipped in. http://t.co/eROV6qlM83

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 29, 2015