Final Answer:
The Nayar, an indigenous community in Kerala, India, traditionally desired male children primarily for the continuation of lineage, property inheritance, and to perform ancestral rites. Female children were also valued for specific roles in the family, including maintaining the household and contributing to economic activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Nayar community, historically matrilineal in structure, held preferences for male children due to several cultural and practical reasons. The desire for male offspring was driven by the need for lineage continuation, ensuring the family name and property remained within the paternal lineage. Inheritance in many societies, including the Nayar, often favored male heirs.
Additionally, the performance of ancestral rites and rituals was primarily the responsibility of male descendants. Sons were seen as essential for conducting these rituals, ensuring the spiritual welfare of deceased ancestors. This belief system contributed to the preference for male children.
However, female children were also highly valued within the Nayar community. They played significant roles in maintaining the household, contributing to domestic affairs, and engaging in economic activities such as farming and crafts. Daughters were seen as important for the overall welfare and functioning of the family unit.