In Kyrgyzstan, parents wish for sons. Too many girls, and they start to worry and pray | Gulbarchyn Toialieva

My father was so upset at having a girl he refused to visit me in hospital. He later changed his mind, but such attitudes keep women uneducated and limited to housework and care duties

My father didn't come to the hospital when I was born. I discovered this later in life. In Kyrgyzstan, parents often wish for sons. When a girl is born first, it is no problem - a son is still likely to come. When the second child also turns out to be a girl, the family begins to worry. And to pray.

They might sacrifice a ram, study eastern calendars to work out which days are good for conception. God forbid if the third child turns out to be a girl. This would now be a serious problem.

Gulbarchyn Toialieva has worked for 15 years on peace building and conflict prevention and is the founder of the non-governmental organisation Zhalyn. Her foundation was established in response to the growing restrictions on the rights of young people and women