One Child Policy - Lim Yan Tong

What is One Child Policy?

-The one-child policy is the population control policy of the People's Republic of China whereby each family can only have one child although there are some exceptions. 

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

-Social pressure exerted by the one-child policy has affected the rate at which parents abandon unwanted children. Many unwanted children live in state-sponsored orphanages.

- Single-child families would produce self-centered “little emperors” and “empresses.”

- Single-children tend to be dominated more by self-seeking instincts, commanding more attention in their individual homes

- Single-children will generally be more reliant on their parents and less independent.

The "4-2-1 Problem", 

- As the first generation of law-enforced only-children came of age for becoming parents themselves, one adult child was left with having to provide support for his or her two parents and four grandparents. This leaves the older generations with increased chances of dependency on retirement funds or charity in order to receive support. If for any reason, the single child is unable to care for their older adult relatives, the oldest generations would face a lack of resources and necessities.

POSITIVE EFFECTS

- Due to the Overwhelming attention the single-children receive at home, some single-children might appear to be more emotionally secure and confident.

- The population control of China helps provide a better health service for women and a reduction in the risks of death and injury associated with pregnancy. At family planning offices, women receive free contraception and pre-natal classes that contributed to the policy's success in two respects.

What do people who wants to have a second child do?

- Reports surfaced of Chinese women giving birth to their second child overseas, a practice known as birth tourism. Many went to Hong Kong, which is exempt from the one-child policy. 

Personal opinion:

I feel that the One-Child-Policy is not a good reform as humans should have the right to decide how many children they wants. Moreover this one child policy will cause population imbalance and China might have "silver tsunami" .