In 1970s, China's population came close to one billion, and Chinese government started to concern its affection on economic growth. In 1979, the beginning of 'Chinese economic reform', the leader Deng Xiaoping issued a birth-right policy named 'one child policy', which limits most families only to have one child, so as to control population growth; exceptions could be made for minority families, or families whose first children were disabled, etc. Strong actions were executed in the first two decades since 'one child policy' issued, and in recent years the policy had become relaxed. In January 1st, 2016, this policy was eased; two children per family are allowed.
The 'one child policy' has remained controversial worldwide and also in China. Fundamental critic on the policy argues that it violates human right on reproduction, as well as birth right. Beyond that, the policy brings several side-effects to China, which are exposed in some major social issues. First, preference to boys brought by Chinese traditions, in the condition of 'one child policy', results a skewed gender balance toward males. In addition to the imbalance of population, the stress for men to get married has become severe. Second, Chinese parents tend to pay more attention on their only child, which causes a significant psychological stress on generations born in 1980s and 1990s. Third, in recent years, the decline of working age population gradually became significant, whereas the aged population ratio in turn increased. This imbalance consequently lead to many social problems in China now, such as predicaments in economic growth, and increasing pressure on living and taking care of parents for the young generations.
The final problem becomes the main reason which lead the government to end the policy. However, future concerns for the young generations of China still exist. Many of the young decide not to have more children, since they are already burdened with the responsibility of looking after their aging parents, and cannot afford anymore to raise up another child.However, meanwhile, they also want their children to grow up with accompany. The end of ‘one child policy’ in fact hesitates them on making a decision.
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