For hundreds upon hundreds of years, the country of China has dominated other countries largely due in part to its vast population. For instance, the 1982 Census in China reported the

“It is necessary to publicize and promote birth control and planned parenthood in all densely populated areas.” (Xizhe, 17)

Throughout the 25 years or so that the policy has been in effect, the incentives and punishments have been the driving force behind achieving obedience and cooperation from the people of China. These incentives include mainly cash or health subsidies, better housing and extra food rations. In order to receive these incentive rewards however, the couple must sign a “one-child certificate,” in which a couple pledges and signs to only give birth to one child. Those who break their oath by having a second child must return all the benefits they received by signing the certificate, as well as returning the actual certificate (Park, Han, 162). Other benefits that vary from area to area may include such things as preferential education, job placement, or priority placement in receiving public child care. As far as the disincentives go, there is the general lack of reward leaving the unsigned couples at a disadvantage compared to those who formally agree to bear just one child. The main deterrent or punishment imposed by the government is a fine for those couples who have more than one child. Another is the prevention of a second child from officially registering of a second child because the government deems that child to be “out of plan” (Short, Fengying, 379). By disallowing a child official registration to a formal education, the child may not receive proper health care or any assistance for education whatsoever and their household would even be denied the extra food or land it would normally receive with the addition of another person to the family. Even though the family of a child who is “out of plan” might have gone against the one child policy, the ramifications for the child’s life seem very severe. The child naturally does not control whether he or she was born or not, it is the parents’ responsibility. And so then why, if it is the responsibility of the parents to control their birth situation, does the child ultimately suffer? It seems very harsh and cold to alienate a child from its culture and even create animosity towards him/her amongst its own family. This is just one of the arguments against the establishment of the one child policy and the way in which it may be potentially problematic for the country of China in the future.

“The new law has some positive, women friendly features, but it is fraught with inconsistent and contradictory restrictions that ultimately compromise women’s freedom and equality.” (The Center of Reproductive Rights)

“There is absolutely no question that many people want more than one child and struggle to find ways around regulations. The Chinese Press from time to time reports on violations of the policy, such as happened in the town of Tanba where, from 1997 to 1999, over 5,000 women gave birth to children in excess of the regulations. This was possible because of the connivance of local officials, who accepted bribes to look the other way and then reported false figures on births to higher authorities.” (Gunde, 179)

In conclusion, the one child policy has made a great transition from what it started out as, just an encouraged notion, to what it has come to be, the law of the country in light of the population problem of the nation. The policy has gone through phases of seemingly very unfair and inhumane regulations and others that have seemed to not accomplish the objective of the policy, including the problems with corruption and such. Eventually though, the policy has evolved i

Some topics in this essay:
Short Fengying, Reproductive Rights, Park Han, Chinese Press, , Reference Bureau, Xizhe Mao’s, Mao Zedong’s, Census China, Central Document, child policy, family planning, country china, short fengying, fertility rate, birth control, people china, chinese government, child “out plan”, park han, birth child, chinese child policy, 1993 fertility rate, policy chinese government,