Is One Child Policy in China Effective - Essay Example

Is One Child Policy in China Effective? Affiliation: Population growth rate is critical to social and economic development. High population growth affects the rate at which an economy grows and/or develops. On the same note, overpopulation results in poor social standards and/or lifestyles. In this respect, China formulated and subsequently implemented the one-child policy in early 1980s (Wan, 2012). the policy regulates, monitors, and manages population growth. To do this, the policy dictates the number of children that couples can have. In particular, one-child policy requires couples to have only one child, unless they fall under the exempted categories (Wan, 2012). One-child policy is a legal and administrative enforcement of family planning practices in China. The implementation of the policy in the 1980s followed the dire need for the Republic of China to control population growth. At the time this policy was implemented, China had reached almost unmanageable levels of population growth rate, an aspect that subsequently crippled social and economic welfare in the country. Following these observations, political administration moved in to dictate the number of children among Chinese families. The implementation of the one-child policy saw the light of day early 1980s. This legislation came in to curb the unprecedented population increase that took place a couple of decades before 1980s. Formulation and drafting of the policy had started late 1970s, but the actual implementation took place in 1980 and subsequent years. Even though population increase was getting out of control, it was difficult to get the policy operational. Since the 1980s, one-child policy implementation has been dynamic due to the adoption of some specific changes from time to time. In light of the provisions made in the policy, there are a number of purposes served by the one-child requirement. The ultimate goal of the policy is to control and manage Chinese population. The operational aspects of the policy were designed to reduce births in the country. With reduced births within and across the country, population growth rate would significantly reduce. In other words, the essence of the policy is to reduce fertility levels, discourage couples from having many children, and ultimately reduce the general population in China (Wan, 2012). To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the policy promotes family planning through use of contraceptives. Government-funded agencies conduct massive awareness and creation and public education on matters of population, social welfare, and economic development. In essence, the purpose of the policy is to enhance the interconnection between the three variables. Over and above population control, the policy aims at spurring social and economic strength in China. Rules and regulations are paramount to the functionality of the one-child policy. In other words, the policy comes with critical to-do and not-to-do practices. As the title suggests, couples are free to have one child and no more. All Chinese citizens are subject to the provisions of the law. This means that all Chinese citizens must comply with the outlined provisions in the policy. Citizens who violate the policy are subject to legal actions by the administration. On the not-to-do side, Chinese citizens cannot have more than one child unless they qualify for exemption. Most importantly, population control policy is mandatory and there is no choice whatsoever for all persons provided for in the policy. There are a number of exceptions made in the one-child policy. The first category of persons who enjoy exceptions from the policy comprise of rural families. For rural families, a second child is allowed only under disability or gender circumstances. In particular, a rural family with a disabled or girl first child can have a second child (Greenhalgh, 2008). The second category of exempt persons comprises of ethnic minorities. Legally recognized non-Han Chinese persons are exempt as far as one-child policy is concerned. Majority of individuals born under the provisions of the policy have no siblings. In this respect, couples or families where each parent is the only child in their respective families can have up to two children (Goh, 2011). Another key exemption accounts for Hong Kong and Macau. The two are Special Administrative Regions whose residents are exempt from the provisions of the one-child policy. Finally, foreigners who live in China are not subject to the one-child policy. It is important to note, however, that violation of the policy by nonexempt parties attracts fines and/or legal actions. The one-child policy has had its effects and outcomes over the last several decades. One of the most critical effects is gender imbalance. Boy-girl ratio in China exhibits worrying disparity. Boys are preferred to girls, an aspect that makes the girl child vulnerable to selective abortion and/or abandonment. In this respect, forced abortions are evident due to the social influence and subsequent pressure associate with the policy. Years after the implementation of the policy, female infanticide and female birth underreporting have become critical problems in China (Nayak, 2008). Over and above sex-based imbalance, cases of adoption increases significantly from time to time. Other outcomes related to the policy include birth tourism, perceived violation of human rights, unequal enforcement among the rich and wealthy, high senior population, and search for twins (Christoph, 2010). Twins are sought after because multiple births carry no penalties under the policy. Most importantly, the one-child policy has resulted in economic growth and development, averted social problems, and improved healthcare service delivery. Chinese economy continues to grow at a significant rate since the institutionalization of the policy. On the same note, access to quality and affordable care is evident, especially among women. Social, economic, and environmental issues have also been minimized through the policy. In conclusion, China’s one-child policy is both effective and efficient. The policy has progressively solved China’s problem of uncontrolled population growth. High population growth affects the society socially, economically, and environmentally. Amid the shortcomings realized in the process of implementation, the policy has served its purpose effectively. It was evident that there would be winners and losers in the context of the policy. Moreover, the policy allows for exceptions that benefit the larger society in one way or another. References Christoph, J. (2010). Moral Issues and Concerns about China’s One-Child Policy. Munich: GRIN Verlag. Goh, E. (2011). China’s One-Child Policy and Multiple Caregiving: Raising Little Suns in Xiamen. New York: Routledge. Greenhalgh, S. (2008). Just One Child: Science and Policy in Deng’s China. California: University of California Press. Nayak, S. (2008). An Overview of Chinas One Child Policy and Health Consequences on Society. Ann Arbor: ProQuest. Wan, W. (2012). Six questions on China’s one-child policy, answered. The Washington Post – Asia & Pacific, November 15. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/six-questions-on- chinas-one-child-policy-answered/2013/11/15/ad64af1c-4def-11e3-be6b- d3d28122e6d4_story.html Read More