Asking, What is the cause of the fatal daughter syndrome? we are back to our inquiry, Other than well-being, what is different between India and Kerala? We answered that question: The occurrence of fatal daughter syndrome in India and its absence in Kerala. Next we should ask, Why is fatal daughter syndrome absent in Kerala?
Fatal daughter syndrome has been described as an integral part of the traditional culture of India. Although so old that it is excluded from the usual considerations of development processes, fatal daughter syndrome appears as a consequence of change from gender equity to patriarchy in India. This reconstructed history was described as part of the India background in the introduction. The end of the era of gender equity in India may be located at the Aryan invasions of India, the Pan Hinduism movement creating caste, and/or the development of commerce. (Indian reality)
The absence of fatal daughter syndrome in Kerala is most fully explained as a residue of the era of gender equity in India. That is, the change toward the strong patriarchy which happened in the traditional culture of India but did not occur in Kerala. There is much corroborating evidence in the caste structure of Kerala. The two largest caste communities, the Nayars and the Ezhavas are unique to the Malayalam speaking people of India. Both of these castes maintained matrilineal and matrilocal customs supporting gender equity. The current practice is not matriarchy. Weak patriarchy may best characterize the current family structures of Kerala as further described in Kerala families.