China's One Child Policy

China’s one-child policy

In 1979, three years after Mao’s death, a one-child policy was introduced to control China’s growing population. The policy has prevented more than 250 millions birth between 1979 and 2011

A couple was allowed to have one child. If that child turned out be a girl, they were allowed to have a second child. After the second child, they were not allowed to have any more children.

Those who observed the policy will be rewarded. Rewards such as cash bonuses, enxtra month’s slary every year until the child is 14. Those who did not will be penalized. Sometimes people lose their jobs, houses will be destroyed and the child is not allowed to attend school.

Posters promoting China's one-child policy can be seen all over China. One, with the slogan.

When you do get pregnant. You will be forced in to committing an abortion. You can commit abortion until 8months of pregnancy.

Arguments in favor:

Control of the growing population

The policy has helped people pull out of poverty. By having only one child to take care of.

Females can now go to work instead of taking care of their 6 children. It’s true that most of chinees public do support the policy.

Arguments against

Human rights violation. It seems that the policy also prevents people to choose the size of their own family.

The ‘four-two-one problem’. This is a very common problem. It starts when a married couple, who are both the only child. have a baby. The family has to take care of the baby but also the four-grandparents. And when the child grows older. He has to take care of them too.

Gender imbalance

Most families want a boy to be their first child. If they know it’s a girl they are likely to commit an abortion. If this happens there will and gender imbalance. Having more boys than girls