Chin Page 1

Wei Chin

Moran

English 1 H

4 May 2008

One Child Too Less!

In 1981, the Chinese government imposed the “One Child Policy” for economical and

political intentions. Deng Xiaoping, then a strong communist leader, declared that China must

have a reduced population; thus improving the standard living and stability of the nation. Anyone

that dared to violate the policy had to bear severe punishments. Wages were cut for ten years,

children not allowed an education, and jobs were taken away. Now, such a policy is still intact,

but in some rare cases, some couples are allowed a second child. However, this policy should be

reconsidered, the population of women in China is decreasing, and the economy is suffering

from the lack of available jobs for men.

In China, it is illegal for a doctor to inform parents of the gender of the unborn baby, but

through bribery, the task is often repeated. Usually, when the parents find out that the baby will

be a girl, abortions follow. If it is too late to do the sin, the baby girl can be left to die or put up

for adoption. “For every 100 girls that were born, 120 boys were born, and in some poorer

regions, there are twice as many boys as girls. In some areas up, to 90 percent of second

pregnancies that are female end in abortion.” (PBS 14) According to China’s State Population

and Family Planning Commission, “by 2020 some 30 million Chinese men will not be able to

find wives, potentially leading to social instability.”

“China will enter a long period of demographic crossover: a consistently declining new

labor supply coupled with a consistently rising elderly population.” (Feng 9) In the last few
 Chin Page 2

decades, China has transferred much of its economy from tough industrial jobs to light industry.

Without as much vigorous work being done, fewer males are now needed, therefore the

unemployment rate among males has recently risen. Not only is the male population in China

suffering unemployment, but the economy is also feeling the effects of the One-Child Policy.

Due to the One Child Policy, a child can be asked to be the caregiver of up to eight elders. In

China, the percentage of the population over the age of sixty-five years was five percent in 1982,

but now stands at seven point five percent. By 2025, the percentage is expected to rise more than

fifteen percent.

Many people believe that if women become rarer, in today's world, their social "value"

will increase, leading to greater empowerment. However, the risks are undermined. “Four

percent of all men aged 40 had never married, while for men with the lowest level of schooling,

the figure was dramatically higher at 27 percent.” (PBS 3) Women, in turn take their turn to

choose. According to Yang Wen, “Money is important, he needs a stable job and has to be well

educated.” This pretty much leaves out the unmarried rural men, 97% of whom never finished

high school and 40% are illiterate. It is important to learn from history, as they may teach

important facts. During the mid-1800s, for example, the Nien Rebellion broke out in eastern

China's Shandong Province, where there were 129 men for every 100 women. At that time, 25%

of Chinese men never married because many baby girls were victims of infanticide. Unable to

find wives, some of Shandong's bachelors turned first to banditry and then to outright rebellion

against the ruling Qing dynasty. At their height, 100,000 Nien rebels controlled territory

containing 6 million people. It took the government 17 years to crush them for good.

Some argue that the limit on the population will increase the economy because the

government does not need to support as many people. However, they do not realize that the
 Chin Page 3

forced law will only input more economical difficulties as China is fast approaching a less

vigorous environment. Now, because of the One Child Policy, many factories are going out of

business because of the dramatic drop in workers. "It's very difficult," says William Wang, who

runs the factory, "and it's getting more and more difficult. Now there are a lot more factories and

fewer workers because of the one-child policy. Costs are going up. It's not looking good." Like

mentioned earlier, a child is expected to be the caregiver to more than four elders. This usually

results in the government giving pensions to help with the costs. Pensions cost money, and a

improving economy needs money.

When Deng Xiaoping first started the One Child Policy, it was only considered a short

time limitation. Now, it has been 27 years, and it is time to extinguish the policy. The effects that

it has on its future and economy cannot be ignored. Yes, China has begun allowing more changes

to be added to the law, but it is not enough. If action is not taken, the effects that this insufficient

policy will be clear as the world changes.

 Chin Page 4

Work Cited

Kadlec , Chris . "China: The One-Child Policy". 4 May 2008

<http://www.beaglebass.com/one_child.htm>.

Feng, Wang. "Can China Afford to Continue Its". 4 May 2008

<http://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/stored/pdfs/api077.pdf>.

"China From the Inside". PBS. 4 May 2008

<http://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinainside/women/population.html>.

Reynolds , James. "China's elderly care conundrum". BBC News. 4 May 2008

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6222586.stm>.

Rosenberg, Matt. "China's One Child Policy". About.com. 4 May 2008

<http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/onechild.htm>.

Baculinao, Eric. "China grapples with legacy of its ‘missing girls’". NBC. 4 May 2008

<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5953508>.

" Unfair burdens: impact of the population control policies on the human rights of women and

girls". Human Rights in China. 4 May 2008

<http://hrichina.org/public/contents/article?revision_id=4162&item_id=4161>.

"China’s One-Child Policy". Independent Lens. 4 May 2008

<http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/pleasevoteforme/onechildpolicy.html>.