China's One-Child Policy

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“A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life” (Quote Garden). This quote by Isadora James shows the importance of having siblings and large families, a lifestyle China doesn’t have. The one-child policy has created many problems for China after it was created by the Communist party to control population growth; however, China is taking steps towards relaxing it, and many more people are speaking out. The one-child policy has caused many more issues than it has solved. The restrictions people must follow are causing a lot of the problems. One of the issues is that China will not relax the policy (Olesen 1). By limiting urban families to one child in a family, China is trying to conserve their natural resources and control the population (Olesen 1). The policy has prevented over 400 million births (MacLeod 1). Before conceiving, parents must obtain a birth permit from the government. Under the permit, married couples are allowed to have one child. If they want to have another one, they must apply for permission and must meet certain regulations and conditions (Dewey 4). In China, families who have more than one child are frowned upon. They pay higher tuition, higher daycare fees, higher tax penalties and are faced with discrimination (Dewey 5). Banners hung all around China’s countryside read, “Give birth to fewer babies, plant more trees” and “If you give birth to extra children, your family will be ruined” (Demick 2). Parents who give birth to more children could also be charged a compensation fee for every kid. On the other hand, families who follow the one-child policy are given preferential treatment for jobs, housing and maternity leaves (Dewey 5). There are many regulatio... ... middle of paper ... ... “China may relax one-child rule; More kids needed to work, care for aging population.” USA Today 9 Sept. 2010: 1-2. ProQuest Newspapers. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. Marquand, Robert. “China Faces Future as Land of Boys.” Christian Science Monitor 3 Sept. 2004: 1-3. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. Olesen, Alexa. “China Sticking to One-Child Policy.” Indianapolis Star 23 Jan. 2007: 1-3. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. - - -. “Report Says 13 Million Abortions a Year in China.” Houston Chronicle 30 July 2009: 1-3. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. Quote Garden. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2011. . “1-7.” China’s One-Child Policy Does Not Violate Human Rights. Ed. David M Haugen. Information Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Aug. 1995. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. .

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