One Child Policy

One Child Policy

The one child policy has had a range of demographic and social impacts in China including the growing proportion of elderly, the massive gender imbalance and an establishment of an illegal human trafficking system. The one child policy had been introduced as a means of birth control as the population of china was exceeding controllable limits. But, there had been many consequences of this policy which has changed the world and its perspective on China and the Chinese people.

The birth control policies were introduced in China as a way to decrease the population and growth, therefore creating a better standard of living for the Chinese people and to contribute to the short and long term economic development. Before the one child policy, china had only encouraged the three person family, but after discovering that this did not make a difference on the population of China, the one child Policy was introduced. This stated that an average Chinese citizen must only have one child to claim a salary bonus (or land allocation if farmer), an extended maternity leave, paid medical and hospital expenses, priority housing and free schooling for the child.

If one had two children, you missed out on these privileges and you may be fined or demoted from a job. There were some exceptions, however, where one was allowed more than one child. If you were a member of an ethnic minority you were allowed two or more children. Also, if you had the first child with a disability or were pregnant after adopting, you were allowed another child. Later, with the gander imbalance, another exception was introduced where, if you had a girl, you can have another child.

With the introduction of the one child policy in China, a major demographic gender imbalance occurred. Traditional Chinese culture and religion had implied that there is a preference for males to be born in comparison to females. Some argue that at least in larger metropolitan areas, this sentiment is changing more...

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