What did Mao Zedong encourage in 1960-1970?
Great Leap Forward: Large families as pop. growth empowered the country
What did Mao’s policy lead to?
Too many kids → Not enough food → Largest famine ever of 30mil deaths
What policy was introduced in 1970?
‘Later, Longer, Fewer’
What did the 1970 policy introduce?
Parents encouraged to delay first child, wait longer between, have fewer children
The 1970 policy didn’t work, so in 1979 this policy was introduced?
‘One Family, One Child’ (one child policy)
What did the 1979 policy say?
Couples encouraged to have ONLY ONE child
If first child is a girl, a second child can be born (hopefully son)
After second child, discouraged to have anymore
What were benefits of having only one child?
Higher wages
Retirement funds
Free education, healthcare
Interest-free loans
What were penalties for having more than one child?
Fines
Pressure to abort
Fired from work
What were exceptions to the one child policy?
Families in rural areas
Children born overseas
Ethnic minorities
Parents working in high risk jobs
How many births were approximately prevented?
400 million
When was the one child policy abolished?
2016
Why was the one child policy abolished?
Ageing population
Not enough workers to boost economy
Not enough people to look after elderly
What happened to girls that were born during the One Child Policy?
Abandoned
Given to childless relatives
They were sold
Sex trafficking
How much did the birth rate go down after the one child policy?
20 → 7