The government is again trying to insert itself into women’s childbearing decisions, knocking on doors and making calls with questions some find downright invasive.
The first time a government worker encouraged Yumi Yang to have a baby, she thought little of it. She and her husband were registering their marriage at a local office in northeastern China, and the worker gave them free prenatal vitamins, which she chalked up to the government trying to be helpful.
When an official later called to ask if she had taken them, and then called again after she did get pregnant to track her progress, Ms. Yang shrugged those questions off as well intentioned, too. But then officials showed up at her door after she had given birth, asking to take a photograph of her with her baby for their files. That was too much.
“When they came to my home, that was really ridiculous,” said Ms. Yang, 28. “I felt a little disgusted.”
Faced with a declining population that threatens economic growth, the Chinese government is responding with a time-tested tactic: inserting itself into this most intimate of choices for women, whether or not to have a child.
Officials are not just going door to door to ask women about their plans. They have partnered with universities to develop courses on having a “positive view of marriage and childbearing.” At high-profile political gatherings, officials are spreading the message wherever they can.
I love that all of the countries of the world tend to experience ups and downs with birth rate. However, only China, does away with the complexities of economic incentives, fiddly laws, educational programs, and delicate immigration policies. Rather, the government approach is simply, “stop having children!” “Now have more children!” “Go!”
Yeah there is no logic behind it whatsoever. China is egregiously bad in this regard, but not alone, that’s for sure. Conservatives the world over constantly fear monger about birth rates without ever actually trying to address the underlying social financial and cultural problems that prevent people from having children. The solution is always “yell at women to have more babies”, not “better regulate the housing market so people wanting to start a family can actually access homes with space for children”.
I’m imagining that scene of Family Guy with the “Smooooke” guy but instead it’s “FUUUUUCK”.
Why are you assuming they aren’t trying to make having children more appealing by expanding access to family planning services, healthcare, and childcare? The article literally says they’re also doing those things.
The only thing mentioned are the promotional campaigns and once, vaguely, “child-care resources”. And the ratio is far more in the former’s favour, which is useless. Same for women being pro- and against the government’s actions, with there being more focus on the complaints. And they actually get quoted, so they’re more trustworthy. I actually applaud them, since the supporters might just be doing it out of fear. No statistic to back up either though, but just about anyone will assume the Chinese government is fucking up privacy rights, as usual. There ARE quotes for that in here.
Why are you commenting? Can’t handle a dissenting opinions on something you feel like you’ve mastered?
Is anything I said wrong or are you just not very self aware?