The One-Child Policy in Shanghai

Acceptance and Internalization

Bibliographic Data

ID4974804
AuthorsYilin Nie (Yale University), Robert J Wyman (Yale University)
Year2005
Volume31
Issue2
Pages313-336
Publication date2005-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePopulation and Development Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0098-7921 • E-ISSN: 1728-4457
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1728-4457.2005.00067.x
OpenAlexW2162445176
LanguageEN
Citations received23
References cited23

China's one-child policy is a major example of social engineering and the subject of human rights concerns. Given the significance of the policy, it is important to ascertain the attitudes of Chinese citizens. We conducted interviews in 2003 with residents of Shanghai who were of childbearing age either at the policy's inception or at the time of the interview. Our respondents, who were generally well educated, did not perceive the policy as extraordinary when it was introduced; resignation to one more intrusive government regulation was mixed with understanding and even approval of the policy. People talked about the political and social context, demographic concerns, family economic strategy, and the results of government-engineered gender equality. Among the young interviewees, the context has changed from a population striving to get by under tight government control to a much richer population that is upwardly mobile and perceives their local government to be basically beneficial. The one-child family is considered normal; few are still concerned with the policy per se, while others see it as unnecessary. The one-child policy seems to reflect Shanghainese current preferences; its status as a legal requirement may be largely irrelevant

China · Context (archaeology) · Economic growth · Economics · Family planning · Family planning policy · Geography · Government (linguistics) · One-child policy · Political science · Politics · Population · Public policy · Social policy · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Law · Sex work and related issues

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