Chinas One Child Policy

During the 1970s the Chinese Government realised that the country was heading for famine unless severe changes were made quickly. A baby boom occurred in the 1960's and the population was growing too fast to be sustainable. The government stepped in to avoid another crisis. 

Beginning in 1979 the one child policy said that each couple:

• Must not marry until their late twenties
• must have only one successful pregnancy 
• Must be sterilised after the first pregnancy or abort any future pregnancies 
• would receive a 5 to 10% salary rise for limiting their family to one child
• would have priority housing, pension and family benefits, including free education for the single child

Any couples disobeying the rules and having a second child were severely penalised:

• a 10 per cent salary cut was enforced
• the fine imposed was so large it would bankrupt many households
• the family would have to pay for the education of both children and for health care for all the family
• Second children born abroad are not penalised but they are not able to become Chinese citizens 
• Pressure to abort a second pregnancy even included pay cuts for the couple's fellow workers so they would make life unbearable

Problems and benefits of the policy

• Some women were forced to have abortions as late as the ninth month of pregnancy 
• Women were placed under tremendous pressure from their families, workmates, the 'Granny police' and their own consciences and feelings
• Local officials and central government had power over people's lives. 
• Chinese society prefers sons over daughters. Some girls were placed in orphanages or allowed to die in the hope of having a son the second time round. 
• Chinese children have reputation for being over indulged because they are single children, hence the name 'Little Emperors' 
• Population growth has slowed, it is estimated that 400 million fewer people have been born. Living standards have increased. 
• China now has a gender imbalance as boys were favoured over girls. There are 60 million more young men than young women.