the practice fell into disfavor; infanticide was out-
lawed, and as a result, infanticides dropped sig-
nificantly. The increase in infanticides in the mid-
1980s is most often attributed to the one-child
policy adopted by the Chinese government in
- Under this policy, families having more
than one child are economically penalized.
Parents who have more than one child might be
subjected to monetary fines, or husbands could
lose their jobs. Rural families are permitted two
children, but only if the first child is a girl. With
the practical limit of a single child, the preferred
choice is most often to have a son. The preference
for boys is based upon cultural traditions. Boys
carry on the family name, and they are expected
to work in business or on the farm and thus
support the family. In addition, sons are the des-
ignated caregivers of elderly parents.
When girls marry, they essentially then
belong to their husband’s family. Thus, girls are
of no lasting benefit to their parents. To increase
the possibility of having a male child, prenatal
testing has become quite common; if the fetus is a
girl, the mother may have an elective abortion.
This practice, too, has been outlawed, but it still
continues outside the law. In areas where sex-
selective abortion is not an option, female infan-
ticide becomes more common. The killing of
infants is also against the law but still continues.
Many girls are abandoned, while some are turned
over to adoption agencies. Indeed, the children in
China’s adoption agencies are overwhelmingly
female, and in many cases the orphanages are
where girls are sent to die. A September 1995
report in theSouth China Morning Postrevealed
that in many orphanages, girls die of neglect in
record numbers. Infanticide and sex-selective
abortions have created a significant disparity in
the numbers of girls and boys in China. Some
estimates suggest that anywhere from 80 to 110COMPARE
&
CONTRAST 1980s:In 1981, the United Nations adopts
the Declaration on the Elimination of Dis-
crimination against Women. This is the only
international statement guaranteeing wom-
en’s human rights.
Today:In 2005, a United Nations statement
by Secretary-General Kofi Annan calls vio-
lence against women a global issue. He cites
infanticide, genital mutilations, and dowry-
based violence as some of the most common
instances of violence directed toward women.
1980s:Because of China’s one-child rule, the
number of abandoned children increases dra-
matically. The majorityof these children are
girls. The orphanages in which they are placed
are so poorly run that mortality rates are
between 50 and 90 percent in some areas of
China, according to theorganization Human
Rights Watch. It is estimated that most of the
abandoned children never even reach orpha-
nages, dying on the streets instead.Today:In 2007, the U.N. General Assembly
establishes the post of special representative
of the secretary-general on violence against
children. The position is created as part of
the effort to eliminate the hidden and often
socially approved violence against children
that occurs in many nations.
1980s:China dismantles collective farming
and allows farmers the freedom to run their
farms as private enterprises. Farmers expect
that this change will allow them more eco-
nomic freedom and a greater ability to sup-
port their families.
Today:In 2005, there are more than 87,000
protests by farmers and workers, who com-
plain about the economic instability and dis-
parities that have led to greater poverty in
rural areas (where the government has arti-
ficially depressed wages). Many families are
living in extreme poverty.Pantoun for Chinese Women