Summary:
The one child per family policy is a strict way of Chinese society, where the words read: "For a prosperous, powerful nation and a happy family, please practice family planning," are posted up on billboards. Many may not think this quote is valuable, however this policy is so strict, there are fines that are associated with breaking the norms of their culture. This is a self-explanatory policy, where families may only be limited to one child in China's mainland. This excludes Hong Kong and Macau. Where the policy may seem to limit a person's freedom to have as many children as they would like, it is also helping the problem with overpopulation and has proven to be improving global population. Although our world is still able to sustain life for the billions of people who inhabit the earth, areas with higher numbers of people are struggling at providing for their members. In areas with high population density, it is becoming more difficult to feed the mouths of the elderly and the young, across generations. In 2014, our Earth's population is estimated around 7.2 billion people and this number is only increasing. With this stead-fast number increasing, resources are becoming limited. Populations such as sub-Saharan Africa have tried methods to reduce reproduction, such as contraception, but it has not worked out
as well as this one child policy which considers the bearing of a second child worth a
fine. Families are being discouraged to have their second child, and the effects of social media on this policy is growing support from their country. "China's current population is at 1.4 billion and the policy has managed to stop 200 million births between 1979 and 2009." This quote weighs the cost and benefit analysis of having more children in an area that cannot support a huge number of people. It may seem cruel, but it is necessary. A main problem is through their patriarchal society is through their want to have a son. With their one chance to have a child, families are turning to abortions and infanticide when the child is female. Children with disabilities are not omitted from this as well. In rural areas, this policy is more relaxed, where families may apply to have their second child if their first born is a girl. This policy is slowly turning to become more relaxed.
Analysis:
While this policy may seem too harsh for many other countries surrounding China, it is proving to be a positive method of population control for the entire globe. In the United States, this policy would be unaccepted due to the increase of liberal participation in determining policy making. I would agree with China's methods to some extent. Where they may not be able to have more than one child without a fine, it is helping them exponentially when it applies to resources. Without the extra mouths to feed, their current and growing population is benefiting. As stated in the article, the cost-benefit is somewhat fifty-fifty, because there are pros and cons to each viewpoint. Infanticide should not be condoned regardless of the policy. Families are turning to aborting their children due to their sex and physical conditions. This is not fair to their culture, and if this policy did not exist, families would not be as pressured to abort their babies. The one child policy has helped their population and it is seen worldwide as a positive when looking at it on a macro level. The policy is in need of relaxing, so allowing certain families in less-populated areas to have more than one child should be accepted if the family can provide for that child. Moreover, China's ideas on controlling overpopulation have created a dent in the world's numbers and will hopefully only improve over time.
Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/william-tong/one-child-population_b_4876559.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-universities-education
Posted 03/03/2014
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