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China’s One Child Policy. 1979 law Restricts family size Urges late marriage Requires spacing of children. Rationale for the Policy. Feeding 25% of world’s population on 7% of the arable land Population containment essential to economic reform & living standards
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China’s One Child Policy 1979 law Restricts family size Urges late marriage Requires spacing of children
Rationale for the Policy • Feeding 25% of world’s population on 7% of the arable land • Population containment essential to economic reform & living standards • Flooding & famine can send them into starvation
Why boys? • Social safety net • Financial dependence on offspring essential for 70% of elderly • Sons care for parents • Daughters tend parents-in-law
60 exceptions to Rule • Rule applies to few • Mainly urbanites & gov’t employees
Exceptions • Farmers • Ethnic minorities • Families with disabled first child • Multiple births • Parents who work in high risk occupation • Parents who are single children themselves • Etc,etc,etc.
Penalties vary according to region • Economic incentives for compliance • Fees levied for non compliance • Loss of job security • Confiscation of belongings
Methods of enforcement • Universal access to contraception • IUDs • Tubal ligation • 87% of all women use these
Abortion rate low • 25% of Chinese women of reproductive age • 43 % of U.S. women of reproductive age
Is it working? • Fertility rate declined from 2.9 in 1979 • Presently 1.7 children per woman • Before OCP, fertility rate dropped by half: “late, long, few” • 1970-1979
Major downsides Gender ratio 100 girls to 115 boys • 1980-2001 • Sex selective abortion—illegal • Non-registration of females • Abandonment of females • Lack of eligible brides • Mental health problems for men • Socially disruptive behavior in men • Kidnapping & trafficking or women • More sex workers & STDs
Billboard promoting girls "There's no difference between having a girl or a boy — girls can also continue the family line."
Downside: ratio of old age dependence • More old people; fewer young • 4:2:1 phenomenon; couple responsible for 1 child & 4 parents
Future of the Policy • Balance basic human right of reproduction with pop growth • Pop still increasing 10 million per year • Equal to pop of Belgium
Relaxed policy IF… • Baby boom can be averted • 5 yrs between babies is achieved • It would reduce gender imbalance
New policies in 2002 • Choice of contraceptive methods • Client centered family planning services • Permission not needed for first child