One Child Policy Effects in China - Admission/Application Essay Example

? One Child Policy Effects in China Effects of one-child policy in china Population and birth planning policy were first introduced during the Maoist time. The original policies aimed at increasing the population of china so that it met rapid industrialization goals at the time (Chan, 2004). However, from 1950s china faced significant population growth problems of poor rural population (Chan, 2004). China population pressure busted to 962 million in 1978 and there was net increase in population by 421 million that is 77.8 percent in 1949 to 1978 whereas the age group between 0-14 was made up of 33.59 percent (Hu, 2006). This indicates that the present population by then had high potential growth rate. China was still an agricultural land by then and only 7 percent of China’s land was arable (Hu, 2006). This meant that china’s ability to accommodate such large and expected population was compromised. Since then policies set have aimed at lowering population growth in China using various programs to discourage birth of infants and also encourage use of contraception. The policies also targeted improving child and maternal healthcare and economic development (Chan, 2004). Gigantic China population growth was deploring economic development and had negative impacts toward the environment, so the one child policy was intended to match up population growth with economic performance and to ensure sustainable use of resources (Hu, 2006). Population policies in China did not begin with one- child policy. Population policies were a series of policies targeting reduction in population growth through education campaigns to families from 1971-1979. National and provincial birth target level was introduced which was translated to local level leading to one child policy which was introduced in 1979 and is still in effect to date. One child policy in China is enforced through various incentives. An example is that the incentives were applied in such a manner that rewarded parents who had one child like in preference to extra food, health care, kind of job, education opportunities, housing and included disincentives for non compliance involving fines, loss of education opportunities and even loss of job in the government (Hu, 2006). The targeted goal of the policy was to maintain the population of china under 1.2 billion and the officials were to enforce the policy to reach the goal through contraceptives usage and forced use of couple sterilization with more than one child (Chan, 2004). One child policy had reduced the population growth in China by an estimate of 300 million over a period of its first 20 years in action. It has come along with unprecedented problems which includes sex imbalance, sex –selective abortion, social safety issue in future and infanticide (Chan, 2004). Increasing Sex Ratio This is one of the major effects of one child policy in China brought about by traditional mentality of male preference over female sex, which has led to sex imbalance. Before the policy was implemented in China, the sex ratio by then was 1.06 countrywide. An example, is that the proportion of male to female at birth grew such that in 1988 it was 1:1 and by 2001 it was 1:17 as compared to other industrialized countries which had ratio ranging between 1:03 -1:07 (Chan, 2004). Various surveys conducted in reproductive health indicate that increased sex ratio presently continues both in urban and in rural areas. In rural areas the sex ratio is high from first birth that is from 1.05 compared to second birth, while in urban areas the sex ratio for first birth is 1.13 and rises to 1.30 in the second birth. This is due to the fact that Chinese in urban area are sex selective with first pregnancy since they are only allowed one child, while some Chinese in rural areas are permitted to have second children. Therefore, if the second pregnancy is female it is likely to be aborted to pave way for a second male child. Impact on children education One child policy had positive effects on children since it has contributed to education improvement. This is because families concentrate resources to a single child in the family leading to improvement in the education sector in China (Hu, 2006). Abortion, infanticide and abandonment A large speculation matter arises as to the whereabouts to the large number of missing girls. China’s tradition had male preference over females since sons carried family continuation line. At same time in China’s society is dominated by men thus the policy discriminates about girls (Hu, 2006).Thus it is largely speculated that most of missing girls are victims of abandonment or even infanticide. Conversely, some girls are hidden from authority and others adopted by immediate families through civil procedure (Hu, 2006). In China there is a law against use of prenatal sex identification for purpose of abortion. This has seen china experience a high growth in ultrasound machine from 1980s. The use of this technology and subsequent possibility of abortions explain the significant proportion decline in the number of females in China despite sex –selective abortion in China. Change of marriage behavior Traditionally Chinese women marry at an earlier age. The initial mean age before introduction of the one child policy was 18.6. The policy led to increase by 2.5 years between 1970s and 1980s and due to the policy marriage age increased (Hu, 2006). Late marriages have become social norms in the Chinese society which was not so initially. Lack of a Social Safety Net in future In a projection of 30 years time from now in China people aged 65 year or older will make 22 percent of the population while in 1980s 65 years old people were 5 percent of total population. These are impacts not yet reached but are likely to materialize though currently are not in a state of urgency. This is going to be led by increasing life expectancy and decreasing of birth rate whereby the ratio between the elderly and the young increases. This has the implication that the young have the responsibility of providing to the elderly parent upon their retirement in absence of state social services. Children born under one child policy will have the responsibility to care and provide for two parents and four grand parents. This burden will lie in shoulder of the young population in china which with one child per family and without national social services they can not bear the burden. According to Hu the traditional support system of the family is going to be strained unless social services infrastructure is put in place. Living status of retirees Hu explains that the living status of retirees is likely to deteriorate since 81 percent of retirees come from factories, enterprise and mines where there is no increase in pension to mach up net increases of price of goods since most state enterprises have terminated pension due to loss of revenue and restructuring. “Little Emperor” This refers to psychological impact that arises from one child policy to the population raising only one child. It comes about from the fact the child is raised alone in the family and adoring parent joy and pride spoil the child, hence arise of generation that is spoiled. The affluence influences even the children diets which have changed to western foodstuffs. Considering the negative impact of fast moving foods it was projected that by 2010 one in every five children will have obese issue (James, 2009). This will have negative effect on the country’s population health which over period of time have been respected worldwide due to it traditional dietary prowess and stable health (James, 2009).This is another unintended implication of one child policy in China. Marriage squeeze Due to sex imbalance between men and women in Chinese population, marriage is proving to be difficult for young men in China since they are not able to find ladies to marry. A deficit of five million was estimated in 1970 to 1990, this is due to increase in sex ratio which decreases the number of marriageable ladies (Hu, 2006). This has led to an increase in human trafficking which is associated with trade of kidnapped women as the Chinese gangs’ traffic North Korean and Vietnamese women to be married to Chinese husbands. The result is an increase in crime and violence in the country. Underreported Female Infants This emanates from the fact that some couples do not report to authorities about their female children’s birth hence emerging female children who are not registered (Quanlin. 2005). These girls without birth identification can enjoy the benefit of free education or free health care facilities though government does not recognize them (Hu, 2006). Conclusion One child policies were introduced in China in order to manage population growth and thus, facilitate short- and long-term social economic development. As a result, the country has witnessed a decrease in China’s population rate. In combination with other factors such as centered regional development, China is also experiencing unprecedented rates of economic development and growth. Neither of these plans comes without additional negative impacts, if not an unanticipated effects. The Chinese government should begin to address these repercussions or face critical new policy dilemmas. Some of the most undesirable consequences of the one-child policy are infanticide, sex imbalance, abortion, and abandonment of girls, and the social consequences of spoiled only child and squeeze marriages. In addition, crime rate is on the increase since Chinese gangs traffic Korean and Vietnamese women to sell to Chinese men who then marry the stolen women. References Christine Chan. 2006. Demographic Consequences of China’s One-Child Policy. Retrieved on March 2, 2013 from http://www.hdfs.udel.edu/.../pdf/onechildpolic. Dr. Philip James, chairman of the International Obesity Task Force, quoted in “Study Foresees Soaring Rate of Childhood Obesity,” March 6, 2006. Xinhua News. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-03/06/content_4263297.htm. Jian Hu .2006. Effects and Social Implications of China’s One-child Policy. Retrieved on March 2,2013 . from:http//www. Qiu Quanlin. 2005. Policies Help Education of Girls. Retrieved on March 2, 2013 From http://www.chinadaily.com.cn Read More