China's One-Child Policy
"One is best, two at most, never a third."
China has taken governmental action in an attempt to slow the growth of its population. While the one-child policy is not unanimousy popular, it does affect the lives of all the country's citizens. The government states the policy is an attempt to "lower the population quantity while improving the quality." The current state of China has created many ethical and moral questions concerning curbing population growth versus an individual's human rights.
Subsequent issues include:
- concearns about having sons vs. daughters
- unexpected pregnancy
- prenatal detection of fetus gender
- forced abortion, sterilization, and concraception
For more on the ethical dillema, click here!
History - In 1978, the Chinese government began to understand the need for a population policy. The one-child policy was offically announced in January of 1979. The policy stated that urban couples should limit themselves to one child. "Women who give birth to one child only will be publically praised; those who give birth to three or more will suffer economic sanctions." (Cher Pi-Chao) The primary goal was to reduce the population growth rate to 1% in the year 1980.
Explanations and Definitions - The basic make-up of China's policy includes the idea of benifits for those complying with the system and penalities for those who defy it. Although they are rare, some exception do exist. If the first child dies or is handicapped, the government will allow a second birth. (Banister P. 202) Exceptions are sometimes allowed for very rural areas, where families require children to work or some ethnic tribes, which need children to continue weak blood lines. Some definitions, explanations, penalties and benifits are as follows:
Benifits:
- Cash payments
- Preference in housing
- Free schooling
Penalties:
- Decline in salary
- No increase in housing space
- More medical costs
- Cadres
- The people required by the Chinese Communist Party to coerce people into compliance. They are responsible for forcing sterilization, contraception, and sometimes abortion.
- Certificates
- The "single-chld certificate" is given to couples who pledge to have only one child and agree to recieve benefits because of their decision.
- "unplanned" pregnancy
- Unlike the literal implications of a unexpected pregnancy that occur in our country, a unplanned pregnancy in China implies one that is not permitted.
Or Return to homepage.
Link to the annotated Bibliography
and the glossary.
Alie LeBeau
(317)973-2820
Send e-mail to LeBeaal@earlham.edu
Copyright © 1996, Alie LeBeau