The Less Dead Theory in action: The One Child Policy (1979-2015)
Every day we see the Less Dead Theory play out in real time in every country. Whether it is pedophilia in America or thorough out the world one thing is clear, women and children are seen as less dead. In today’s article, we will visit the country of China. Where the one child policy is still affecting the birth rate to this very day. The country of China implemented a population control policy to restrict couples from having more than one child. This law was enacted to curb the rapid growth of births within the country. At that time, the country was estimated to have over a billion people projected to be born in China. The government decided to enact laws to curb population growth. The China Government enforced compliance with fines, forced abortions and sterilization.
This policy caused significant demographic and gender inequities. The policy has several notable setbacks, so the policy was updated to include a two-child policy and when that did not work it was extended to a three-child policy. When the policies were implemented, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders realized that the workforce was aging and shrinking rapidly.
Chinese women were hit hardest with these policies because of the preference for boys instead of girls. Couples began to abandon their baby girls; some of whom were abandoned or even murdered because of these inhumane policies. The baby girls that survived were put up for adoption to foreign couples abroad. This action skewed the country’s gender ratio toward men which created a generation of missing women.
As a result, the policy had an unintended consequence resulting in women joining the workforce in greater numbers than ever before because the workforce was aging so quickly. Generally, the women would have been in their childbearing years but because of the policy women opted out of childbearing for their education and to join the workforce.
The Chinese Communist Party
The Chinese Communist Party credits these policies with the country’s economic growth. The CCP stated the policies prevented 400 billion births. There are some scholars who have disputed this claim by the CCP. The West openly criticized the policies as human rights violations. Frankly, the West is no better and has its own demons to deal with.The policy was harshest in cities where most families lived. Enforcement of fines could take up to seventy percent of a family’s monthly salary. Parents with more than one child risk losing their jobs and promotions in state owned corporations. Above the quota children were barred from quality education via public schools. Community leaders could face career ending demotions if their communities exceeded the birth quotas. Rural areas typically saw one-time fines for above-quota births and in some places a second child was allowed if the first was a girl.
Exceptions to the Policies
The exception to the policies were rural families. They were allowed to have two children. A third child would be granted if no boy babies had been born within the family. Also, minorities were exempt from the policies.The Little Emperor Syndrome
This referred to one male child who was spoiled by the parents and grandparents because the government preferred males over females. Women and girls were often overlooked and treated badly by males. The victims in this case were baby girls and women. The Chinese Government did not see the value in women other than birthing male babies to save the population from becoming extinct.Lady Justice
In 2016, the policy was abolished, allowing all couples to have two children, and by 2021, three children were permitted. Despite the lifting of these inhumane restrictions, China faces a fertility crisis with a shrinking population that will take decades to overcome. Lawmakers are scrambling to promote new policies to encourage larger families.As a woman, I am tired of men making family planning decisions without women at the table. This policy was sexist and male centered. Whatever possess men to think they do not need women except to birth babies is idiotic. Women all over the world are not marrying and having families like they use to because they do not want the life their mothers and grandmothers had in the past. Plus, the cost of living is costly in China, and the pay has not kept pace with the economy. Although life in China is reasonably affordable the average income for high salaried people is roughly $14,000 a year. Childcare cost almost half of the yearly salary so women are opting out of marriage and childrearing.