ANTI-NATALISM - China

Question 1

Why was the policy enacted?

Answer 1

• In 1950 rate of population change was 1.9%.
• Caused by Mao Zedong, who urged mothers to have children comparing them to ‘aircraft carriers launching fighter planes’.
• Growth was too rapid, so would create too many young dependents who would put pressure on healthcare and education.
• High infant mortality - lowering fertility rate would place focus on one child.

Question 2

Give details of the policy.

Answer 2

• Established 1979.
• Benefits:
  
  • First choice of education
  • Childcare and healthcare offered
  • Certificate offered after a random check
  • Extra pension benefits
• Discentives:
  
  • Random checks
  • 196 million sterilisations since 1979
  • Fines of 3 times the average income

Question 3

Are there exemptions?

Answer 3

• Policy relaxed in 1984.
• Now only 35% of the population are subject to the policy.
• Varies across China.
• Ethnic minorities allowed to have second child - e.g. Han and Mongols.
• Children of 1 child policy can apply to have 2.

Question 4

What are the negative consequences of the policy?

Answer 4

• Gender Imbalance:
  
  • In 2010 was 118 males : 100 females.
  • 24 million males will be unable to find a wife by 2020.
  • Competition amongst males leads to social and economic discrimination.
  • Increased sexual violence.
• Ageing Population:
  
  • Caused by One Child Policy, 1970s ‘later longer fewer’ policy and a lack of baby boom following the baby boom of the 1950s and 1960s.
  • At the end of 2011, 13.7% of the population was 60 or over.
  • 4-2-1 phenomenon: when reach working age, have to care for parents as well
  • Combined with fact that life expectancy has increased (now 75), now costs more for the country due to pressure on services - e.g. pensions and medical costs.
  • People in labour force peaked 2015. Now will suffer end of cheap labour - causes rapid increase in wages.
  • This will weaken China competitively.
• Brutality:
  
  • Term ‘gendercide’ coined by American feminist Anne Warren.
  • 196 million sterilisations since 1979

Question 5

What are the positives of the policy?

Answer 5

• Population growth rate onlu 0.46%.
• Fertility rate 1.6.
• Decreases pressure on services, especially water. Claimed that water pollution down by 30.8% due to the policy.