One Child Policy
(Anti Natalist Policy)
China
When:
Until the 1960s, China's government encouraged families to have as many children as possible because Chairman Mao saw a booming population as a healthy sign of the productivity neceassary to catapult the country to global success (1949-1976). China's population grew rapidly and China became home to a quarter of the whole world's population. Also China was overcrowding and the economy was stagnant. Because of that, Deng Xiaoping, Mao's successor, reversed the trend three years later and the One-Cild Policy was born in 1979.
What:
The One-Child Policy is an Anti Natalist Policy, which is meant to decrease the total population. In China, couple are encouraged to have only one child to make sure China's population is not increasing.
Expections: for families living in rural areas, for children born overseas, for thnic minorities, for disabled children and for parents who work in high-risk occupations.
Rewards for having only one child: higher wages, interest-free loans, retirement funds, priority housing and school enrollment.
Penalties for having more than one child: fines from $370 to $12,800, pressure to abort pregnancy, confiscated belongings, getting fired from work.
Where:
China is located in Southeast Asia. China has 14 neighboring countries: North Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam .
Why:
The One-Child Policy was introduced because of China's growing population. China's population was a quarter of the whole world's population. These were far too many people so China needed to reduce the population growth because they worried that they would not be able to support this huge population growth with resources, .. ect..
How:
- OCP enforced by the National Population and family planning commissions of China
- couples are encouraged to have only one child
- If that child is born a girl, parents would be allowed to have a second child in order to hopefully bear a son
- after the second child, they would be discouraged from having any more children
- rewards for having one child
- penalties for having more than one child
- Propaganda posters have huge impact (show positive aspect of having only one child)
Advantages of the One-Child Policy:
China has prevented 400 Million births due to the One-Child Policy from 1979 to 2010
fertility rate decreased (from nearly 6 to about to about 1.54, fell by over 50%)
OCP successfully lowered birth rate
76% of China's population support the OCP
China's resources will not run out
Disadvantages of the One-Child Policy:
There have been criticisms about human rights, not only over freedom of choice, but forced abortions and sterilizations.
OCP favors boys over girls (120 male births for every 100 girls)
Many children have been abandoned for adoption.
There is an ageing population and an increased dependency ratio.
China's population is still growing.
One child has to look after two parents and four grand-parents.
Females are less respected.