Chinas One Child Policy

Question 1

Why was the policy needed?

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Answer 1

Extreme poverty 
Lack of food and drinking water
Over cultivation
Famine
Unemployment
Overcrowding in cities
Traffic congestion
Air/ land/ water pollution
Not enough services

Question 2

Features of the policy

4

Answer 2

Men could marry at 22 and women 29
Couples have to apply to be married and to have a child
Must be sterilised after their first child
Must abort and future pregnancies (even up to 9 months)

Question 3

Problems with the policy

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Answer 3

Women were forced to have abortions up to 9 months of pregnancy
Local officials and central government had control over people’s private lives
Women were placed under a lot of pressure from families, workmates, granny police
Chinese society prefers sons so many girls left in orphanages
Lots of children become over indulged (little emperors syndrome)

Question 4

Benefits to people if they followed the policy

5

Answer 4

5-10% salary rise (urban)
Bigger land allocation (rural)
Extended maternity leave
Paid medical and hospital expenses
Priority access to housing, employment and free schooling for child

Question 5

Changes made in 2000

3

Answer 5

Young couples who are both only children can have two
Attitudes towards daughters improved
Farmers can have a second child if their first is disabled or unable to work

Question 6

Was the policy good? Why?

Answer 6

Yes
The famine never happened
Increased technology and exploration of natural resources increased the standards of living for many
China’s birth rate fell from 31 to 19 in 20 years
Population 230 million less than estimated