China’s one-child policy is one of the most controversial social policies of all time, because of the issues and the way the policy has been implemented. Some negative social consequences have also arisen from this policy. However, there is general public acceptance despite the many critiques about it. In 2008, a survey undertaken by the Pew Research Centre showed that 75% of the Chinese population support the one child policy.
One of the questions many ask is whether the policy has been fair to Chinese citizens. But it is true that China faces a population crisis, and I feel the government cannot be blamed for taking such extreme measures. Drastic times call for drastic measures. But I feel that there are ways to achieve a sustainable population size without implementing such a drastic measure, for example, India. India has achieved population sustainability without state coercion.
One issue of the one child policy is the violation of basic human rights. There have been forced sterilizations, abortions and even infanticides. There have been many horror stories of how people were forced to abort their babies, although the use of physical force on women is outlawed in China.
However, China’s economic might could be developed as a result of the family planning programme, since investors recognise that children can be costly. When their numbers are reduced, it frees capital into the Chinese economy. The economic success of China was so successful and powerful that in 1998 and 1999, financial restrictions were imposed to moderate an overheating economy.
Some studies have shown that in the last two decades, more males were born as a result, and the sex ratio in China became imbalanced. As a result of the imbalanced sex ratio, there were fewer married men and marriage was also seen as a socialising force. I feel that this policy does not improve gender equality, but worsens it.
Also, the crime rates increased as a result of the policy. The Chinese government has also recognised this problem of a higher crime rate as a result of the one child policy and has been trying to undo the damage. A softer tone in its propaganda was adopted. In the past, abortion was encouraged, but today, posters encourage family planning and that both boys and girls are treasures.
I believe it is time for the one-child policy to be phased out. It is successful to a certain extent as China’s birth rate has been lowered dramatically and annual population growth is less than 1%. Economic growth has also multiplied and more women are brought into the workforce. But the downside is the demographic nightmare and the severe labour shortage that China will experience due to the ageing population and the lack of children to provide for millions of elderly people.
It has also been said that the Chinese society is increasingly influenced by consumerism, from the various articles done about the “little emperors”, the only child in the family where parents shower lavish care on them. All the generations of ambitions are focused on this one child. Most of them will grow up not knowing how to care for other people or siblings, and this might create a self centred society.
In light of the recent Sichuan quake, many families have lost their only child, and this could encourage the government to phase out the one-child policy. To outlive your offspring is a terrible prospect, and for many families in China, there will be no more children for those families who have lost their only child.
This phasing out could be done slowly, as time is needed to develop China’s social and medical infrastructure to cope with the rising birth rate, should this policy be eliminated. Issues like the rising ageing population have to be dealt with too, for example, the provision of elderly care and social infrastructure. Removing these laws immediately would only undo all the good that was done by the policy. In about nine months, there would be a flood of babies born in China.
