Two-child policy, and what next?

As we have already learned, China's one-child policy was a very bold and consequential move made by the Communist Party, and it recently announced that the policy is loosened: people are able to have two children instead of just one. However, there are apparent threats from China's own economic structure and its future if the one-child policy is suddenly a two-child policy. 

The problem her seems to be financial: costs of living are rising up and couples are reluctant to spend even bigger portion on their children only. But in truth, many young generation of Chinese couples would rather not have children due to the city's skyrocketing expenses.  

"Let’s say couples do start cranking out more than 1.4 kids. At the absolute earliest, those kids will begin to enter the workforce in 2035. That’s not soon enough. China’s working-age population peaked in 2012 according to official statistics, at 1.0 billion people. In 2025, the (now) 930 million-strong labor force will start shedding 10 million workers a year."  (Guilford, 2013).

This is an absolutely terrifying fact for China. Maybe they are too late to undo what they've done to its population structure. What do you think? 

Resources: 

Guilford, Gwynn. (2013, November 15). Too Late, China Adopt a Two-Child Policy.  QZ. Retrieved November 28, 2013, from www.qz.com 

Lucky Elderlies, Unlucky Elderlies

A global study done by the United Nations discovered that elderlies are going towards an alarming time for them due to a more speedily greying population. For the first time in human history, in 2050, population of elderlies above 60 years old will exceed children below 15 years old. (Gelineau, 2013) This fascinating fact drew my attention, as although I’m more closely studying China, I am curious about what other countries are doing in handling this social issue. I found a loophole that some countries have and don’t: government welfare. The major things we think about when we think of aging population are how to take care of them well. It directly affects economy as taking care of elderlies cost substantial money. If governments are able to provide good welfare that can sustain their lives and if companies all give good pensions, the worry would be much less.

The problem is, China, like many other developing countries, are not providing its elderlies with equal or at least some welfare. These elderlies are worried about their short future, only thinking about what they can do to get through old days. They are scared of being sick, because they don’t know how to afford medical care when they have no pension. Seems like they are constantly worried as they age. Steady economies have proven to be better for elderlies, as the fortunate ones are able to get support groups, good environment, material resources, and fewer worries. However, fortunately, the Chinese government are realizing how big this is of a problem to them as it affects China's society and functions, as well as the economy. It requires a balance of population aging and economic developments, as well as strategies to balance both issues (Zhang, Guo, & Zheng, 2012). 

References:

Gelineau, Kristen. Global Study: World not ready for aging population. Associated Press. Retrieved Nov 14, 2013 from news.yahoo.com. 

Zhang, N., Guo, M., & Zheng, X. (2012). China: Awakening Giant Developing Solutions to Population Aging. Gerontologist, 52(5), 589-596.

Old-Age Support. Who Will Take Care of The Elderlies?

As we know from the previous post, China's one child policy draws the nation and its government to take notice in elderly care. The problem is the lack of government fundings and systems that cause care-taking pressure transferred to the children's lives. In the past, filial piety was a guarantee that elderlies will be taken care of regardless. Now, it's becoming more and more challenging. The next logical step is caring for the elderlies through other institutions, such as nursing homes. It is not just expensive to care for elderlies, but it also troublesome for these children. However, the problem is that many senior citizens aren't open to the idea of being put in nursing homes. The challenge sometimes aren't financial, but family problems coming back to filial piety. Some elderlies are starting to see the benefits of being in nursing homes. Zhang, a resident at a nursing home feels like he belong there more. 
"My children go to work early at 6am and come back home at 6pm. It can get very lonely," he said. "They like to eat at McDonalds, KFC, and other fast food but I don't."

We can tell that elderlies are lonely when they know that they're 'different' from the children. They need a suitable space for them to continue life successfully. 

Aside from the issue of elderlies coping at old age, the government should take notice in its institutions. By building better nursing homes and providing facilities such as health care system for the aged, and establishing social support systems that enables elderlies to have a stronger network of support. They don't have to completely rely on their children. Instead, they can look for support from friendships with other elders. 

Yoon, Eunice. "How China's One-child Policy Hurts the Elderly." CNBC. N.p., 22 Oct. 2013. Web.

The 4-2-1 Family and The Surplus of Men

An important concern of China’s family structure is the overwhelming pressure from grandparents (over 60 years old) to their children and single grandchild. It is called the 4-2-1 families, and it consists of 4 grandparents, 2 adult children who are single-childs themselves, and their one child. 

According to studies of this family structure, these children amounted to 150 million heads by the end of 2007. The fact that there are so many only-childs bring rise to some social issues, which include population reproduction, sex ratio, population aging, and old-age support (Jiang, 2011). This post will talk about the implications of sex ratio to China as a society while the next post will cover old-age support. 
Sex ratio plays a key role in reproduction of a population. In China, since couples are only allowed to have one child, they prefer male over female child. This is due to the cultural value of patriarchy: people see females are inferior to males. People will do whatever they can to have a baby boy, whether it's infanticide or abortion. China has 32 million more males than females. The implications include:

• Increase in violence due to men's frustration of not having females around, crime rate goes up. 
• Increase in men engaging in prostitution, wealthier men may buy or bid for wives.
• Men find difficulties finding wives, difficulty in creating offspring and creating family line. 
• While in this frustration, they have to remember they're the '1' in the '4-2-1' structure, which means they will more likely go through it alone. 

This gender imbalance is a social issue, and it will become worse and worse in the future as China's gender becomes more and more patriarchal. The fortunate ones can have wives and children, but what about those who don't? 

Reference:

Jiang, Q., & Sánchez-Barricarte, J. (2011). The 4-2-1 family structure in China: a survival analysis based on life tables. European Journal Of Ageing, 8(2), 119-127.

Xie BG (2000) The essence of Chinese filial piety. Shanghai

Academy Social Science Press, Shangha

Where Did My Children Go?

The Chinese cultural system of filial piety has been extremely strong. The people of China follow the Confucian ideology that highly regards loyalty and complete devotion form children to parents. Children are expected to make sacrifices for their parents, and financial responsibilities are almost considered a given. These expectations were written down, with Confucius and his disciple as the main contributors. These examples of filial piety that had been children’s first textbook in China until the 20^th century basically talk about sacrifice and endless contributions. (Sartor, 2011).

However, in the present day, filial piety hasn’t been performed to its cultural standards, and I suspect that it’s due to the over-pressured single-childs having to support the expanding aging population. Parents in China nowadays have the right to sue their children if they feel neglected or mistreated (Chou, 2011).  Under the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly that came into effect July 1^st 2013, children can be liable for neglect and can be subject to being sued. Some laws include visiting parents often, be concerned about parents’ spiritual needs, and not ignoring or neglecting them (Hou, 2013). Filial piety can now be purchased. Entrepreneurs actually sell their services to regularly visit your parents. A 2-day service with videos to ensure visit quality costs about $250/day (Xi, 2013). I find it ironic how something that was a cultural value that’s ingrained in the society can turn into a duty that’s regulated by law. Many blame the one-child policy for this, what do you think?

  

Resource:

Zhan, H. (2013). Population Aging and Long-Term Care in China. Generations, 37(1), 53-58.

Hou, Jian Jun (2013). "China Sees First Violation of Filial Piety Law." All-China Women's Federation. Women of China,Web. 26 Sept. 2013.

Xi, Sun (2013). "Shopping for Filial Piety Online." All-China Women's Federation. Women of China,Web. 26 Sept. 2013.

Sartor, V. (2011). Filial Piety and Confucius. Beijing Review, 54(25), 48.

Chou, R. (2011). Filial Piety by Contract? The Emergence, Implementation, and Implications of the “Family Support Agreement” in China. Gerontologist, 51(1). 3-16.

Introduction to China’s Aging Population

China’s population structure is determined by a different method compared to other countries. Unlike other countries that have population aging due to changing fertility and mortality based on industrialization effects, (Moody, 2012) China went through a different route, which was the one-child policy. The one child policy, introduced in 1979, was created due to economic troubles facing the nation. Population was overflowing and the government needed to curb the numbers to ease poverty and famine. The policy basically gives each married couple in China a quota of having only 1 child. The policy that supported delayed marriage and childbearing slows down population growth. But, it has its negative effects that the nation must face today: the aging population. By 2030, one in every four people in China is going to be older than 60 (Wang, 2013). What are the implications of this? Here are some examples of issues surrounding Chinese elderlies and youngsters:

• 4-2-1 and its financial burden. An aging population basically means that majority of the population are aged or elderly people. A one-child generation has 2 parents (mother and father) and 4 grandparents (2 grandmothers and 2 grandfathers). This child grows up without having cousins, uncles, aunts, etc. This kid’s parents have to provide for him and his grandparents. When this kid turns into an adult, he and his wife will be responsible for his 2 parents and 4 grandparents, which is 6 people.  Soon enough they will have a child and the cycle continues (Jiang and Sanchez-Barricarte, 2011)
• The erosion of filial piety. Elderlies, due to fewer children (from a certain number to just 1) that can provide support, feel less cared for. (Liu, 2008)
• Economic problems facing elderlies. Poverty rate of elderlies in rural area is 65% (11% in urban areas). In general, 23% of elderlies in China live below poverty line. 57% of elderlies in rural area do not have pension.   (Wang, 2013)

There are many other issues surrounding China’s aging population. Most of them are results of the one-child policy as the root cause. Some are related to the issues above, and a lot of them are interconnected. This blog will explore and talk in detail about some of aging’s important and relevant issues.

Reference:

Zhan, H. (2013). Population Aging and Long-Term Care in China. Generations, 37(1), 53-58.

Jiang, Q., & Sánchez-Barricarte, J. (2011). The 4-2-1 family structure in China: a survival analysis based on life tables. European Journal Of Ageing,8(2), 119-127.

Wang, Jeanette (2013). "Legacy of One-child Policy Could Have Consequences for Elderly Welfare." South China Morning Post. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.

Liu, Fenshu. (2008) Negotiating the filial self: Young-adult only-children and

intergenerational relationships in China. Young, 16(4). 409-430.