One Child Policy Flashcards
How many people died in the 1959-61 famine?
35 million
When did the one child policy begin?
1979
What were the original criteria for the one child policy?
- must not marry until late 20’s
- must only have one successful pregnancy
- must be sterilised after first child or abort any future pregnancies
- 5-10% salary rise for limiting their family to one child
- priority housing, pension and family benefits, including free education for the single child
What happened to those who had a second child?
- 10% salary cut enforced
- fine so large it would bankrupt many households
- family would have to pay for the education of both children and the health care of the whole family
- 2nd children born abroad aren’t penalised but can’t become Chinese citizens
What were the group of women who kept a regular check on couples child bearing age called?
The ‘Granny Police’
China is 80% Han, what were the results of the one child policy for ethnic minorities?
They were exempt as it would be unsustainable for them
In rural areas how did the policy differ?
Couples were allowed a second child IF the first child was a girl
Problems created by the one child policy
1) Women were forced to have abortions, as late as 9 months
2) Women were placed under tremendous pressure from their families, work mates, the granny police and their own conscience
3) Local officials and the central government had power over people’s private lives
4) Chinese society preferred boys over girls and so some girls were left in orphanages or left to die (female infanticide) in the hope of having a boy second time round
5) There are now over 15 million orphans in China, most of which are girls
6) The policy was difficult to enforce on rural areas
7) Chinese children gained a reputation for being spoilt ‘little emperors’
Benefits of the one child policy
1) The previously forecast famine has not happened
2) The birth rate fell from 33.4 to 17.0 by 1996
3) Population growth has slowed sufficiently that people have enough food and jobs
4) An estimated 400 million fewer people have been born
5) Increased technology and exploitation of resources have seen an increased standard of living for many
6) New industries have lifted millions out of poverty
Amendments to the one child policy
1) Young couples who were single children are now allowed to have 2 children but government workers must set an example and have one child
2) Young couple face the burden of caring for 4 elderly parents
3) Having 2 children is expected to share this burden in the future
The current situation
1) less time needed for childcare so women can be more career orientated
2) The attitude towards having a daughter has improved
3) with increasing wealth more people can afford to break the rules and have a second child
4) the policy is unlikely to relax anymore as in 2008 China still had 1 million more births than deaths every 5 weeks
5) 600 million people still live on less than $2 a day
Future consequences
Gender imbalance- bare branches
Severe labour shortage
