China’s One Child China’s One Child PolicyPolicy

““Giving birth is a fundamental human Giving birth is a fundamental human right. In China, the government right. In China, the government

controls it.” controls it.”

-Harry Wu, Laogai Research Foundation-Harry Wu, Laogai Research Foundation

““A big population is a very good thing … A big population is a very good thing … even if China’s population multiplies many even if China’s population multiplies many times we are fully capable of finding times we are fully capable of finding

solutions.solutions.” -” -Mao Zedong, 1949Mao Zedong, 1949(He countered criticism of his policy by claiming that “with (He countered criticism of his policy by claiming that “with every mouth comes two hands…” meaning that it would be every mouth comes two hands…” meaning that it would be okay to have a large population as there would be more okay to have a large population as there would be more people to work the fields to grow the food. The problem is… people to work the fields to grow the food. The problem is… there was not arable land to do so.)there was not arable land to do so.)

““Bear as many children as possible…Bear as many children as possible…

to make China stronger to make China stronger.” .” --Mao ZedongMao Zedong

“The happy life Chairman Mao gave us.”, 1954

In 1953, the In 1953, the census revealed census revealed

a doubling of a doubling of the population the population in a very short in a very short

period of time… period of time…

““Late, spaced, and few…”Late, spaced, and few…”

“Practice family planning for the revolution.”, 1972

“Deliver medicine (contraceptives) to the door step, do a good job in birth control work.”, 1974

In 1953, the census revealed a doubling of the population in a very short period of time, so by 1956 Mao Zedong began a family planning campaign.

““One couple, one child.” One couple, one child.” 19791979

“It is absolutely imperative that we all support the One Child Policy in our country.

If we don’t, our people will go hungry. Do you think we want our people to be a burden to the rest of the world? It is our duty to have only one child.”

-Rongzhao Li, Wuhan, Hubei Province

Despite a decline in the population during the Great Leap Forward & the Cultural Revolution, the campaign became more

intensive in the 1960s. Family planning & education was advertised on TV, radio, & in newspapers.

What is the “One Child Policy”?What is the “One Child Policy”?

• 1979: Introduced under Deng Xiaoping1979: Introduced under Deng Xiaoping• Goal is to control population growthGoal is to control population growth• System of rewards & punishmentsSystem of rewards & punishments

• 1982: Detailed plans & quotas for all 1982: Detailed plans & quotas for all provincesprovinces• National Quota: National Quota: 2000 1.3 Billion 2010: 1.4 Billion2000 1.3 Billion 2010: 1.4 Billion

• 2002: Official law2002: Official law• General exceptions: General exceptions:

• Members of ethnic minoritiesMembers of ethnic minorities• First child disabled or diesFirst child disabled or dies• Remarried couplesRemarried couples• In rural areas, if first child is a girlIn rural areas, if first child is a girl• Pregnancy after adoptionPregnancy after adoption

Rewards & PunishmentsRewards & Punishments

• Loss of family Loss of family allowancesallowances

• Loss of medical benefitsLoss of medical benefits• Demotion/discharge Demotion/discharge

from government jobsfrom government jobs• Confiscation of propertyConfiscation of property• Fines- Fines- up to 7x annual up to 7x annual

salarysalary

• Social stigmaSocial stigma

• ““One Child Certificate” One Child Certificate” • Cash bonusesCash bonuses• Longer maternity leaveLonger maternity leave• Better childcareBetter childcare• Preferential housingPreferential housing• Preferential employmentPreferential employment• Preferential school Preferential school

placementplacement• Paid medical/hospital Paid medical/hospital

expensesexpenses• Increased grain rations & Increased grain rations &

other material goodsother material goods

Policy ImplementationPolicy Implementation

• Monitored by local provincial authoritiesMonitored by local provincial authorities• Applied differently across the countryApplied differently across the country• Birth permits required Birth permits required • Pressure to achieve targets have resulted Pressure to achieve targets have resulted

in: in: • Mass sterilizationsMass sterilizations• Coercion to abort illegal pregnanciesCoercion to abort illegal pregnancies

• Enforcement difficultEnforcement difficult• Strong resistance in rural areasStrong resistance in rural areas• China says it has been successfulChina says it has been successful

“According to official figures, 97.5% of all aborted fetuses

in China are female. “ –Marie Claire, June 2001

• Illegal & hidden children Illegal & hidden children • AbandonmentAbandonment• Sex-selected abortionsSex-selected abortions• InfanticideInfanticide• Gender ImbalanceGender Imbalance• 4-2-1 Problem- 4 grandparents/2 parents/1 4-2-1 Problem- 4 grandparents/2 parents/1

childchild• High suicide rate for reproductive-aged High suicide rate for reproductive-aged

women women • Growth of an aging population Growth of an aging population

“…a complex collision of China’s notorious One Child Policy and its traditional preference for sons…” –Brian Woods, BBC documentarian

Consequences

“The imbalance between the sexes is now so distorted that there are 111 million men in China—more than three times the population of Canada—

who will not be able to find a wife.” -Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 1999

A generation of “little emperors.”

An “army of bachelors….”

“Sex Ratio as high as 131 to 100…”

“China is the only country in which more women than men kill themselves, and by a huge margin.” –Time Magazine, 1998

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1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040

The Projection of China’s Aging Population

“Without permission, a second child cannot be registered and, therefore, does not legally exist.”

Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women (1992)

“…Article 35.   Women's right of life and health shall be inviolable. Drowning, abandoning or cruel infanticide in any manner of female babies shall be prohibited; discrimination against or maltreatment of women who gave birth to female babies or women who are sterile shall be prohibited; cruel treatment causing bodily injury to or death of women by means of superstition or violence shall be prohibited; maltreatment or abandonment of aged women shall be prohibited.

Article 42.   When a wife terminates gestation as required by the family planning programme, her husband may not apply for a divorce within six months after the operation…”

-The Legistlatie Affaris Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China

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Notification of Prohibiting from Fetal Sex Identification (1993)

“…In order to safeguard the long-term interests of nation and stability of the country, it is necessary to reaffirm that except for the diagnosis of the hereditary diseases, any units and departments are strictly banned to conduct fetal sex identification by using the medical techniques such as the B-scanner, chromosome techniques and etc…”

-Women’s Department, Ministry of Health

Promotion of GirlsPromotion of Girls

“Less births, better births, to develop China vigrously.”, 1987

US Adoption InformationUS Adoption Information

China opened doors for US adoption 1992China opened doors for US adoption 1992 Requires approval of both governmentsRequires approval of both governments Qualifications:Qualifications:

– Age (30-54)Age (30-54)– Marriage (2+ years) & ≤ 2 divorcesMarriage (2+ years) & ≤ 2 divorces– Income ($10,000/family member)Income ($10,000/family member)– Family size (≤ 4 children) & spacing (> 6 Family size (≤ 4 children) & spacing (> 6

months)months) Average time frame 15-18 monthsAverage time frame 15-18 months Average cost $13,000 - $14,000Average cost $13,000 - $14,000 In past decade over 30,000 children In past decade over 30,000 children

adoptedadopted

The End