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Ethical Dillemas of the One-Child Policy

Although the government has stated that the one-child policy is the answer to China's massive population problem, there are many ethical dillemas that accompany the policy. Some of these are forced sterilization, imposed abortion, mandatory IUD implantations, coercion of unwilling participates, and the basic infringements on the human right to fertility and family size. One ethical issue deals with the voluntarity of the family planning program. By rewarding those who comply and punishing those who do not, the Chinese government is making it almost impossible for people to make a choice and therefore the program is compulsory. Although they are trying to educate people about the need for a decrease in population, it seems difficult to believe that there is no coercion. There are many statements that attempt to further the belief of the overall willingness of the people. The leader of China's Women's Federation made the folloing statement:

"Our women's Federation Organization should work hand in hand with the departments concerned and in accordance with provisions in the constitution, encourage and promote family planning, do patient and meticulous idelogoical and educational work and strive to raise the consciousness of the masses in family planning. We oppose coercion and authoritarianism." Kang Keging, Leader of China's Women's Federation (Banister P. 193)

The basic ethical debate can be seen as "Population control vs. Human rights", and the two sides of the argument can be drawn out as follows:

On one hand... *The policy is a deperate attempt to curb the immense population. Food production can not keep up with the increasing population. The increasing number of people also affects the economic situation of the country. The want for an increase in standard of living can only be achieved if the population is controlled. The population growth must be decreased or, at the very least, maintained in order for survival of the country. The one-child policy is a simple and fair way to slow the population growth of the country.

Yet, on the other hand... *The coersion of millions of Chinese may not be within justification. Can the end justify the means? The forms of compulsion are severe. Education should continue as well as suppling birth control, but forcing people into complying is not necessary. The hope is that most people would decide on their own to limit the number of children in their family. The policy does not comply with the human rights ideal that people have a choice in the determination their fertility, birth rate, and family size.

To link to another web page dealing with China's human rights, click here! This site discusses all aspects of human rights in China as well as those having to do with women and the one child policy.

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Alie LeBeau
(317) 973-2820
LeBeaal@earlham.edu