The main reason for this statistical disparity stems from stereotypes rooted in Azerbaijan’s patriarchal family structure. In Azerbaijan, boys are considered socially and economically superior to girls; they are seen as the continuers of the family line, given priority in inheritance and land matters, and viewed as the family's breadwinners and the protectors of the country. Girls, on the other hand, are considered less valuable because they leave the home after marriage to integrate into their spouse's family. Since women often lack a stable income and are even sometimes perceived as a "source of family poverty," having a female child is accepted as an obligation, leading to the saying that a daughter is "a heavy burden" (literally, "a girl burden, a salt burden").