The Dark Road is an interesting novel about a family who is trying to evade the government and its birthing policies. The one child policy enacted by the government is the main villain of a family that only wants to live in peace and birth a son. The book also wrestles with the issue of male dominance over women and their reproductive parts. Ma Jian who has a way of transporting one into the harsh reality, makes one feel sad and disgusted by the environment that was China and what the Chinese had and are still experiencing. Although this is a novel and based on fiction there are plenty of themes and realities experienced by Ma Jian before he moved to England. This is a primary source because Jian experienced the kind of themes mentions in the …show more content…
The one child policy is known for being restrictive and cruel in its implementation and that those who have an “unplanned” second pregnancy could not have another child. Those who find a way to avoid detection by having a second “illegal” child face many dangers that come with trying to keep the child. Though the novel depicts the life on the run from the authorities, it is wise to be cautious when using this novel and using it as a hard primary source as proof of those harsh realities. The novel is just that, a novel, a fictitious story based on the reality many face in China. It would be best to use a diary as a more realistic account for those who are looking for a more concrete source. This novel is intended for the average person who does not know too much about the state of China and its tough and its oppressive government. For those people it will inspire a feeling of disgust and hatred toward the Communist party and sympathy toward those who have to suffer and endure the oppressive nature of that party. Historians might find the novel interesting if nothing else for what the author chose to depict in the novel. Because of the fact that the novel is based on a reality many face in China, historians will see it as a way to see the perspective of an author who openly defies his former country and government. Historian or the actual audience the novel was intended for, The Dark Road is a great read for those interested in how the one child policy affects the regular citizen of
Document F examines the lives of 2 children effected by the OCP. They both felt it helped them in the long run, but all of the attention and pressure to do well was on them. This leads to the creation of the “Little Emperors.” This can lead to a poor ability of cooperation in the next generation. The amount of pressure on a single-child to do well can also lead to an increase of depression and suicide among the new generation, which is not the correct way to decrease population. Document B dives into the issue of fertility rates before and after the OCP takes effect. A year before the Policy takes effect China’s fertility rate is 2.7; in 2008 it is 1.7. This change is unnatural and extremely savage. Social issues are only the tip of the iceberg; the One Child Policy also caused a gender gap beyond
One of the more extreme measures taken in an attempt to control population has been China's one-child policy. Population advocate Garet Hardin suggests the rest of the world adopt similar policies. This paper is to show a country's government acting on theories that Hardin is popular for and the ethical and environmental effects that it had on people and the land. Hardin fails to see the ethical problems laid out by governments that suppress peoples thoughts and beliefs.
Therefore the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the State Council’s Resolution Concerning the Strengthening of Birth Control proclaimed the one child policy in 1980. This policy said “the state advocates the one couple has only one child except for special cases, with approval for second birth” (Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, 1980). The goals of the policy were to have zero growth in the country and maintain the population at 1.2 billion by 2000. China offered financial and marital incentives to couples with a child and suspended them if the couple had a second child. Despite being defined as a voluntary program, the policy was enforced through administrative controls (White 2006). Be...
In 1979, China decided to establish a one child policy which states that couples are only allowed to have one child, unless they meet certain exceptions[1].In order to understand what social impacts the one child policy has created in China it important to evaluate the history of this law. China’s decision to implement a Child policy has caused possible corruption, an abuse of women’s rights, has led to high rates of female feticide, has created a gender ratio problem for China, and has led to specific problems associated with both the elderly and younger generation. Finally, an assessment of why China’s one child policy is important to the United States allows for a full evaluation of the policy.
A single man in China will struggle to find a wife because of the one child policy and the parents in China prefer male children. This policy was enforced in 1980 after the second world war and Chinas population was fast approaching 1 billion. Some people argue that it was a bad idea, and some argue that it was a good idea. China's one child policy helped keep the population down but caused other problems like loneliness in childhood, gender imbalance and, elderly issues.
In the article, “China’s One-child Policy’s Human Cost Fuels Calls for Reform,” Branigan discusses undocumented children and the burden they hold on their family. The family has to pay fines to keep the child. Undocumented children don’t have a birth certificate and come with many cons. They aren’t able to do things others are such as go to school, have insurance, buy medicine, and so on (Branigan). China’s government indirectly forces the citizens to not have a second child, to avoid having an undocumented child or paying fines. The punishments of having the second child makes families scared to break the policy.
began, such as it is seen in the rural areas it is greatly needed that
Throughout centuries, China has been battling with overpopulation, one of the biggest issues that the nation has been faced with, forcing the government to enforce the one-child policy. The desire to control the rapidly growing population dates back to the Mao Zedong era where the population number was at a ripe 602 million people (Stycos, 1989). He believed that with every mouth comes "two hands". What he did not realize at the time was that too many mouths bring hardship, poverty, and paucity of food supplies. In 1979, the Chinese government decided to enforce a policy that would help minimize the growth of their population (McDonald, 1996). The one-child policy was what they thought would solve the problem. Married couples would have to sign an agreement known as the one-child certificate. This certificate served as a contract between the couple and the Chinese Government stating that the couples and the one child that they have will be granted economic and educational advantages in return for promising not to have more than one child (Audubon, 1994). Since each couple is allowed one child, the gender of that child determines whether or not it stays in China as part of the family.
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...
My aim is to find out how does the One-child policy work in real life and what are people’s opinions on it. After my research and survey, I concluded that, the one child policy is necessary in China, in order to control such a large population.
Was China's one-Child policy a good idea? China's one child policy was introduced in 1980 with the fear of reaching the 1 billion population mark.China's one child policy was a great idea because it resolved China's population issue. The three main positive things that came from the one-child policy is population control, more respect for females and the environmental benefits.
Women of China have their own opinions when it comes to their families, being under a controlled government and being told how many children they can have only makes it harder if them. Also China’s Health Ministry estimates that in the four decades since the imposition of the one-child policy more than 336 million abortions have taken place in the nation. Nora...
Rosenberg, Matt. "China One Child Policy - Overview of the One Child Policy in China."
During the rein of Mao Tse-tung China’s population was almost at one million. Mao allowed couples to have as many children as they please because to him, “of all the things in the world people are the most precious.”(Fitzpatrick 2). As the as the population continued to grow the government became concerned and decided that population control was necessary in order to remain able to support the citizens of China. Furthermore, the government feared there would not be enough food to upkeep residents. The next leader, Deng Xioping, created the “One Child Policy” therefore preventing families from having more than one child. On September 25th 1980 the policy was instituted. Subsequently this law has prohibited children and parents the experience of having a big family.
Rosenberg, M. (2010, 11 17). China's one child policy. Retrieved 01 31, 2011, from About.com: