Geography- case study-PC- population control- China Flashcards
Why did the country introduce the one child policy?
During the 1970s (when China was a relatively poor) the country was heading for famine (like the one in 1959 which caused 35 million deaths) unless severe changes were made quickly. As a result, the Chinese government has developed a very strict policy to limit population growth.
How big is China’s population?
Over 1.3 billion
When was the one child policy announced?
1979
What were the main rules enforced to follow the one child policy?
- Permission from the government is needed before people are allowed to marry and have children.
- Each couple must not marry until their late 20s
- Free healthcare and education is available for one-child families.
- Parents having more than one child face heavy fines.
- Family planning is available at work.
- Sterilisation after the first child or the abortion of any future pregnancies
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What would happen if the one child policy rules were broken?
- 10% salary cut
- A heavy fine
- Health care for the family and education for the children would have to be paid for.
What were the positive effects of the one child policy?
- Birth rates have fallen and population growth has slowed.
- People have enough food and jobs and increased technology
- Exploitation of resources have increased standard of living for many.
What were the negative effects of the one child policy?
- Boys are more valued than girls, leading to an unbalanced population (approximately 110 males to 100 females).
- An ageing population is beginning to cause dependency problems (one child supporting two parents and four grandparents).
- Local officials and central government had power over people’s lives.
- Chinese only children can be spoiled – ‘Little Emperor’ syndrome.
How was the one child policy relaxed in the 1990’s and 2000’s?
- young couples who are both only children are allowed two children (doesn’t apply for government works as they have to set an example)
- couples could not find out the gender of their baby because thousands of females were aborted (female infanticide)
- in rural areas couples were allowed a second child if their first was a girl. (Sons were essential to work on family land)
- China is racially mixed but over 80% of the population is hands race. Minority groups could be unsustainable under the one child policy so they were exempt.
Who were the granny police?
Older women of the community entrusted with the task of keeping everyone in line- kept regular check on couples of childbearing age, even accompanied women to contraceptive appointments.
