China's one-child legacy revisited

A forced abortion sparks debate over country's one-child policy.

A public debate over China’s one-child policy has emerged after a graphic photo of a seven-month-old aborted foetus went viral. Feng Jianmei, 23, was forced by Chinese authorities to abort her foetus after she failed to pay the fine for having a second child. Although forced abortions are illegal in China, Feng’s case has raised a wider debate about the government’s right to limit the number of children a family can have.

The government says the policy has effectively controlled a burgeoning population by preventing around 400 million births in the past 30 years. Critics say the policy has led to a spike in sex-selective abortions and infanticide. Some are calling for a two-child policy while others believe the law should be eliminated altogether.

In this episode of The Stream we speak with Kelley Currie (@mackiesmama), Senior Fellow of Project 2049 Institute, Chai Ling (@AllGirlsAllowed), Founder of All Girls Allowed, and British Chinese artist Aowen Jin (@jinaowen).

What do you think? Has the time come for China to re-examine its one-child policy? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using #AJStream.

View the story "China's one-child legacy revisited" on StorifyChina's one-child legacy revisitedA forced abortion sparks debate over country's one-child policy.Storified by The Stream · Thu, Aug 02 2012 10:46:41Criticism of China's decades-long one-child policy has increased since June when 23-year-old Feng Jianmei was beaten and forced into an abortion by family planning officials in the northwestern province of Shaanxi. Feng's family took pictures of her in the hospital, including ones with her aborted foetus next to her. The pictures went viral on the internet through bloggers and activists, which were then picked up by major television stations.
All Girls AllowedAJstreamemergingtruth.wordpress.comAJstreamemergingtruth.wordpress.comAJstreamThe case of Feng Jianmei is not isolated, and many rights organisations have spoken out about the issue for years.
Stop Forced Abortion -- China's One Child Policy -- Women's Rights Without FrontiersreggielittlejohnForced abortions are just one of the many social problems that have arisen as a result of the one-child policy. With many parents preferring to have boys rather than girls, sex-selective abortions and infanticide are among some of the other related issues.

With huge population growths from the 1950s to 1970s, Chinese officials credit the one-child policy with preventing overpopulation. Authorities claim that some 400 million births have been prevented over the past three decades. Still, the policy has led to new demographic problems, both in terms of gender imbalances and an ageing population.

The Wall Street JournalAJstreamMindful MoneyAJstreamThe EconomistAJstreamBusiness InsiderAJstreamThe public outrage that followed Feng Jianmei's forced abortion has led to a wave of public criticism about the one-child policy that has never been seen before. Many well-known voices have spoken out. Liang Jianzhang, the Chief Executive of one of China's most popular travel websites, took to social media site Sina Weibo to criticise the policy: “Abolition of the absurd family-planning policy is the only way to root out this kind of evil". His post was reposted over 18,000 times. His Sina Weibo account can be seen below:
Liang JianzhangAJstreamIn July, three researchers at the State Council's Development Research Center, a government-affiliated think-tank, joined in the chorus. The three criticised the policy from demographic and economic angles. “The longer time we take to adjust the policy, the morevulnerable we become,” they wrote.

But the one-child policy has benefited China as well. With less people requiring the nation's finite resources, the policy has helped alleviate poverty in China and contributed to the nation's rapid growth. The burst in productivity is often referred to as the demographic dividend.

On an individual level, many girls who are part of the first generation of only children feel they have benefited from the policy because of the increased resources and attention they were given. One of them, acclaimed artist Aowen Ji, has interviewed many girls about this topic. Peggy Li talks about the effect of the one-child policy on her life below, at the 4:00 mark:
Interview with Chinese student Peggy Li about the one-child policyAowen JinAnother of Jin's interviews can be found below.Interview with Chinese woman Si Yan about the one-child policyAowen JinAdditionally, the policy may be difficult to reverse or alter because of how entrenched it has become in Chinese society. In the early days of the policy, the government propagated it with advertising. advsem.wikispaces.comAJstreamChineseposters.netAJstreamToday many incentives are offered to those who comply. Among the potential rewards for parents are cash incentives, pension benefits, preferential hospital treatment, land, free homes and increased chances of landing a government job. Their children's exam results can also be bolstered as a result of having followed the policy.

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China's one-child legacy revisited

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