| PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD > China (Yunnan) > 14
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 China's
single-child policy is one of the most famous attempts to control a demographic explosion. It was a belated one, against a trend that ate up
most of the limited economic growth brought up under Mao and Deng.
Ironically, it was encouraged by the Party itself, as labour was
considered important in creating wealth. The opposition this scheme
encountered at the local level became a source of strong conflict and
instability for almost all local bureaucrats. Some of them were killed,
others benefited financially from the privilege of "closing an eye"
on some families' births.
The ugliest face of this policy, however, has been female infanticide and children illiteracy. Male children are more valued in traditional Chinese society: therefore, many newborn girls were (and still are) killed in an attempt to "get the baby boy". In time, and in particular areas, this has produced a substantial imbalance in the male-to-female ratio: Chinese men will find themselves short of a woman, too. Also, most second and third children are not registered (as they are "illegal"), and as a result they are not entitled to schooling. Many organizations are trying to relieve the problems associated with these issues, and eradicate their roots. Have more details in our "what you can do" section.
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