Potential Effects of the One-Child Policy on Gender Equality in the People's Republic of China

Abstract

Notwithstanding the obvious advantages of controlling population growth and the probable problems with old-age security and female infanticide, the one-child program in China could have latent ramifications. It could drastically reduce the size and significance of the patrilineal lineage, promote the popularity of uxorilocal marriage, and encourage women to make nontraditional career choices. The sum of these effects could finally allow China to make major advances in achieving its unrealized goal of eliminating gender-based inequality.

Why do women want to be beautiful? A qualitative study proposing a new “human beauty values” concept

“…We speculated that the self-development HBV, the most crucial value in China, is related to the increased level of gender equality in Chinese society. In China, the level of gender equality has gradually improved more than in South Korea and Japan because of the one-child policy and the diffusion of intensified gender equality policies after the post-Mao era [ 50 , 51 ]. The Chinese government had implemented the one-child policy to prevent a population explosion.…”

“…Since Chinese families could have only one child legally, they had changed their preference for boys and now girls are cherished as well. This generation of girls can receive an equal education level as boys, and thus gain opportunities to have decent jobs [ 50 ]. Additionally, the Cultural Revolution by Mao, which refined the role and status of women by providing fair social opportunities and promoting social activities without gender discrimination, gradually eliminated patriarchal traditions that were deeply rooted in China [ 51 ].…”

The changing relationship of women with their natal families

“…Many of the changes could be deemed positive, but not all of them. One immediate consequence of this planned birth policy was the distorted sex ratio, with an increase in the abortion rate, infanticide and neglect of baby girls (Coale and Banister, 1994;Hong, 1987). Some researchers suggest that this so-called gender-neutral population policy has unintentionally helped to reinforce the feudal ideology that emphasizes the importance of having a son (Greenhalgh and Li 1995;White, 2006).…”

One Child Policy, China

“…According to Sudbeck (2012), "the OCP, had helped to transform the Chinese society into one in which the patrilineal kinship system may finally cease to be a significant factor in everyday life" (p.55). This development within the Chinese society had been particularly helped by the increasing empowerment of Chinese women through rapid expansion of schooling and job opportunities that opened up for women after the OCP had been implemented (Hong, 1987).…”

“…It has been noticed in many societies that the drop in fertility is accompanied by a large increase in women's labour force participation. The new demographic structures created by the OCP, together with the disintegration of the patrilineal kinship network could create a climate that could bring Chinese women to a level of social equality (Hong, 1987).…”