Infanticide is not unique to humans. It is practiced by many mammals including certain primates. The main difference between human and animal infanticide is that infanticide in humans is committed by the parent(s) of the child whereas in the case of animals it is usually a male suitor (Caldwell and Caldwell, 2005, p. 208). In pre-modern societies, infanticide was practiced in place of abortions because it permitted sexual selection, it was much more effective than pre-modern contraception, and it required no special skills or esoteric knowledge (Caldwell and Caldwell, 2005, p. 205). ). Infanticide has a history as a method of population control. It is more common to throw away little girls. This may be due to dowry or other cultural reasons. Infanticide appears to occur primarily when it helps one parent, both parents, or other children survive better or when the infant has little chance of survival. Infanticide is a way of altering the reproductive flow before the child has the status of a real person, which is culturally defined (source). Deaths of weak, illegitimate, surplus, deformed and unwanted children are not defined as murder when the children are not yet born into the social world. Infanticide occurs in many cultures for a multitude of causes. The reasons for infanticide can be summarized in three categories: biological (including the health of the child and twin stigmas), economic (the relationship with other children, the workload of women and the resources available) and cultural ( preferred sex, illegitimate children). This essay will cross-culturally examine the biological, economic, and cultural factors of infanticide. Biological reasons for infanticide are widespread, especially in countries that lack comprehensive medical care or...... middle of article......(1) pp.57-59 Low, Bobbi S (2005). “Women's Lives There, Here, Then, Now: An Examination of Women's Ecological and Demographic Constraints Cross-Culturally.” Evolution and Human Behavior 26 (2005) pp. 64-87.Malherbe, Vertrees C. (2007) "Born Into Bastardy: The Out-of-wedlock Child in Early Victorian Cape Town. Journal of Family History Vol. 31 pp.21 -44Porter, Theresa and Gavin, Helen (2010) “Infanticide and Neonaticide: A Review of 40 Years of Research Literature on Incidence and Causes”. Trauma Violence Abuse 2010 pp. 99-112. Rattigan, Cliona (2008) “I Thought of His Appearance that she was in the manner of the family': Detecting cases of infancide in Ireland 1900-1921". Family and community history, Vol 11/2 November 2008 pp. 134-151.Ren, Xinhua Steve (1995) "Sex Difference in Infant and Child Mortality in Three Provinces of China". Social Science Med. Flight. 40. No. 9 pp.. 1259-1269.