Population Trends: Gender

Question 1

Historic and cultural factors affecting China’s population (in terms of gender imbalance)

Answer 1

• Prejudice against girls (so when lack of resources put people under pressure, infanticide was used to control the number and sex of children
• The use of ultrasound equipment allows couples to selectively abort female foetuses

Question 2

Using ultrasound when choosing genders

Answer 2

• Although the govt theoretically prohibits the practice of identifying the sex of a foetus with the purpose of practising gender-specific abortions, there is no supervision of the operators of the machines.
• Statistic: the highest sex ratios in urban areas (since more equipment available and the rigid enforcement of the one-child policy)

Question 3

Since when have there been prejudice against girls?

Answer 3

3000BC
Currently, there is still bias against girls and they are more likely to be neglected as regards to nutrition and basic health care

Question 4

Reasons for China’s prejudice against girls

Answer 4

• Only sons carried the family name, while daughters were considered culturally inferior.
• Traditionally, women left their family home to join that of their husband and were therefore regarded as a net economic and emotional loss
• In rural areas, boys are preferred due to labour

Question 5

Causes of the gender imbalance

Answer 5

preference for boys
Infanticide
One child policy

Question 6

Implications of the gender imbalance

Answer 6

• Lots of single men- Bare branches represents all the single men due to the gender imbalance
• High rate of crime (greater pressure on women with an increase in sexual crimes, abduction and prostitution)

Question 7

Single men statistic

Answer 7

• In 1982, the ratio of girls to boys born in China was 100:110
• In 1990, the problem had got worse and the sex ratio had risen to 100:111.7 at birth. In addition to this, there were more females than males dying in the first year after birth.

Question 8

China rate of crime

Answer 8

the skewed sex ration accounts for a 34% increase in China’s crime rate. the intense financial pressure on men to attract a partner = more likely to engage in criminal activities.

Question 9

China social issues from gender imbalance

Answer 9

• Women do 2.5 times as much unpaid care and domestic work as men
• Gender pay gap
• Restriction on women’s rights