In order to understand the possibility of implementing a policy that restricts the right to have children, one needs to understand at least briefly the history of the Chinese society. China, for over three thousand years, was under the rule of an emperor, and therefore did not experience any type of personal freedom, not to mention the understanding of basic rights, such as the one to have children. After the feudal system has been overthrown in China, came the communist party, which also believed in the greater good of the community and not that of the individual. Therefore again, as one can see, personal freedom was not an issue that ever arose in the greater majority of Chinese people lives. Even in the 1960s and the 1970s, when all around t

The Chinese government's own statistics reveal a situation worse than even the most alarming Western media reports have suggested. In 1989, the most recent year for which nationwide figures are available, the majority of abandoned children admitted to China's orphanages were dying in institutional care. Many institutions, including some in major cities, appeared to be operating as little more than assembly lines for the elimination of unwanted orphans, with an annual turnover of admissions and deaths far exceeding the number of beds available (Worldwide.)

Unfortunately, the Chinese government has little to say about one of the most commonly discussed negative results of the population policy: the pathetic state of orphanages in China. The evidence of largely official documents indicates that the likelihood of survival beyond one year, for a newly admitted orphan in China's welfare institutions nationwide, was less than 50 percent in 1989. The documents also show that overall annual mortality at many of China's orphanages is far higher than that documented in any other country. In the Chinese provinces of Fujian, Shaanxi, Guangxi and Henan, overall annual mortality among institutionalized orphans that year ranged from 59.2 percent to 72.5 percent (Worldwide.)

As the years went by a few reforms were made to the policy. Rural areas were allowed two children if the first child was a girl and spacing between the births had to be allowed. Fifty-six minority groups exist in China today. These minority groups were permitted to have two more children per couple because they were thought to be in danger of dying out.

However, medical records and testimony obtained by Human Rights Watch/Asia show that deaths at the Shanghai orphanage were in many cases deliberate and cruel.

When the one child policy was first implemented, the majority of the Chinese population accepted it. Many believed that the policy would improve the health of mothers and their children, and make education available for all. This would eventually lead to mothers having more time to work outside of the home. The policy was strictly enforced and promoted at community levels during the 1970's through government agencies. Between 1970 and 1979 live births dropped from 34 per 1000 pregnancies to 18 per 1000 pregnancies (Wei 23.) This was largely due to the overall acceptance of the policy by the general Chinese population. It was overall very effective at first as it reduced the fertility rate.

Even though China enforced this extensive policy it still failed. The population continued to grow to their dismay. Not all births were reported especially in the rural areas where the government efforts were lenient. Women in China were always considered subordinate to men. As in the ancient Chinese saying, "If a woman does not have a husband, her body does not have an owner" (Wen 16.) For example the binding of their feet introduced in China about a thousand years ago by the concubine of an emperor because men considered small feet erotic. Mothers had to bind their daughters' toes under the sole of the foot and then break the arch using a rock. Even though there was the risk of crippling the child it was necessary for her to have a worthy marriage. Upon examination of her feet by the bridegroom's family, if they were over four inches long she was looked upon with disdain and contempt. The State Statistics Bureau specified that Chinese women have achieved dramatic progress, and their status has improved both at home and in society.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2796
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)