One Child Policy Lack of choice in an area as fundamental as reproduction can never be popular, and coercion cannot be condoned. With the evidence that more couples would opt for a smaller family, though, it is encouraging that the need for coercion at a local level is diminishing. But there are other problems too. Firstly, the policy is resulting in an excess of boys.
Data from the in depth fertility survey for 1979-84, when the policy was at its most stringent, put the male: female ratio of reported births at 115: 100 in rural Hebei and 116: 100 in Shaanxi. This compares with an expected ratio at birth of 106: 100 in China. The reasons for the imbalance related to not reporting female births, female infanticide, sex selective abortion, and unreported adoption of baby girls. The relative contributions of each are unknown. The relaxation in the policy and strict legislation on infanticide and antenatal sex determination suggests that the ratios are less worrying now. The 1995 population survey reported average ratios of around 108: 100 in rural areas and stated that now ‘about 51.
03% of the population is male.’ A second concern is the issue of support of elderly people, traditionally a responsibility of children, especially in the countryside. (Around 60% of the urban workforce is entitled to a pension. ) But the proportion of the population above 65 will rise from a modest 8% now to 18% by the year 2025, about the same as most Western countries today. Finally, what of the psychological consequences for all these only children? Much publicity has been given to the ‘little emperor syndrome,’ supposedly suffered by those only children who are the pride and joy of adoring parents and grandparents. Reports about behavioral problems in the so called spoiled generation abound, although they often seem trivial when compared with the behavioral problems of Western children. But there is little hard evidence of causation and in such a rapidly changing society many factors are undoubtedly contributory.
The Term Paper on China’s One-Child Policy: Should It Be Abolished?
... it comes to the one-child policy. Another problem with the One-Child Policy is the growing gender imbalance ... the ‘one child’ policy.” She explained in the hearing her daily duties. Gao issued “‘birth allowance’ certificates ... were 108 males born for every 100 females), which is considered to be a little ... entire United States male population. The sex ratio in China has been growing significantly since ...
China has managed to win large scale acceptance of a relatively drastic birth limitation in less than a decade. However, with the new economic freedom it will not be possible to contain family size through communal pressure and economic disincentives. There needs to be a shift of values towards a ‘small family culture’ reinforced by improved living standards, assured survival of children, and financial security in old age. This is starting to happen in many areas. However, some regulation will be necessary for the time being. The one child family policy was never intended to be a long term measure, and several options are being considered for the near future.
In making a choice several factors must be considered: population size and aging, the family’s ability to support elderly members, economic factors, the position of women, and cultural acceptability. One possibility, favored by demographers, is that everyone should be allowed to have two children-but only two children, and with at least five years between them. It is predicted that this option would give a fertility rate of 1. 72 in the years 2000-2025 and would be acceptable to most people. A number of the alternatives would perform better than the current haphazard system. It will be fascinating to see what route the Chinese decide to take..
