One Child Policy

1. One Child Policy

2. Requires all couples in China to have no more then one child • Reality • it is promoted as an ideal • Enforced in urban areas • Rural families are allowed to have more • Implementation varies from location to location

3. History • China historically large population • Mao urged Chinese families to have more children • Rapid population growth strained nation’s resources • Mao promoted “two” children policy • Deng wanted to increase income of people • Started “one couple, one child” policy

4. How it works • Some couples pay a fine or “social maintenance fee” to have more • Benefits/incentives for having only one • Peer Pressure • Education

5. Results • Gender based birthrate disparity Ratio • Males to females 118:100 • Gender select abortions • Abandoned or orphaned children (usually girls) • Infanticide • One-Two-Four problem • One adult child supports two parents and then four grandparents creating a financial burden • Spoiled children • Children with too much pressure

6. Why Chinese Families prefer boys • Boys more helpful with farm work • Confucianism prefers sons over daughters • Sons are the primary financial support for the parents in their old age • Daughters leave and become primarily part of the groom’s family • Daughter’s traditionally could not inherit • Fortune would go to husbands brother

7. Small Happiness