The One Child Policy in China

China is the most populous nation in the world. It has more than 1.35 billion people.

In the late 1970's China's population had begun to approach the one billion mark.

The Communist Government, led by Deng Xiaoping, became concerned that China would not have enough resources to provide for all of its citizens.

In 1978 he started a program encouraging families not to have more than two children.

In 1980 the Policy was formalized making it mandatory across the country.

There were some exceptions for families from certain ethnic groups, and people whose first child was born handicapped.

The policy was most effectively implemented in urban areas. In rural areas many people were opposed to the policy. Can you figure out why?

Methods of Enforcement

• Making birth control available
• Imposing high fines against those who violate
• Offering preferential employment
• Forced Sterilization
• Forced Abortions

The Chinese Government also used propaganda in order to convince the people of the importance of the policy.

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What was the impact of this policy?

1. A decline in fertility and birth rates.

2. A dangerous gender imbalance.

Many Chinese families favor male children. This is because boys can support the family by working in the fields.

Also, male children add to the family that they are born into by marrying, while female children add to the family that they marry into.

Male children are also seen as more valuable because they are responsible for caring for elderly parents.

Sons were seen as more valuable because they inherit property and the family name.

Because of the restriction to one child, many of those whose first child was a girl aborted the fetus or abandoned the infant.

Sometimes the preference for males even led to infanticide, or child murder.

As a result, today there are not enough women for Chinese men to marry.

This has led to an increase in rape and kidnapping of women.

3. An older population. There are now more elderly people than young people to take care of them.

Life expectancy has gone up because of improved health, and the birthrate has gone down.

Therefore, the age of the average Chinese citizen has gone up and the potential workforce hasgotten smaller.

In January 2014, China amended the One Child Policy to allow people to have two children if they werean only child.

Couples are also now allowed to have a second couple if they live in a rural area and their first child was a girl.

Ironically, many families have not chosen to have a second child.

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