China's One Child Policy

China's One Child Policy

1. After China were invaded and occupied by Japan in the World War II, they wanted to strengthen their military, they encouraged citizens to have more children, This policy would have been fine if China had the resources and technology to match. However, they did not and coupled with the crippling policies of the cultural revolution, mass famines ensued. It is estimated that up to 30 million died during the 1960's and 1970's. This was not a sustainable policy, so the Chinese government was forced to introduce an anti-natalist policy.

2. The government stated that from 1979 all couples were only allowed to have one child. They also increased the marriageable age of men to 22. To get married and to have a child, citizens had to apply to the government.

3. The government stated that from 1979 all couples were only allowed to have one child. They also increased the marriageable age of men to 22. To get married and to have a child, citizens had to apply to the government.

   • Led to a problem of female infanticide. This is the killing of female babies, because couples favoured male children.
   • There were a number of exceptions to the rules, if you had twins or triplets this was fine, if your first child had a physical or mental disability you could have a second, families in rural areas (farming areas) were often allowed a second, ethnic minorities were allowed a second and often couples who bribed officials could have a second.

4. Problems

   • China is still overpopulated, there are over 1.3 billion Chinese
   • There is a male female imbalance in the population
     • There are large numbers of abandoned children
   • China will slowly get an ageing population.

5. Relaxations

   • All of families in females areas can now have two
   • Two people who marry from single children families they are allowed two
   • Females are better educated about contraception and are free to make their own choices.