Hypocrisy Behind Two-Child Policy
Summary of an article titled "China's proposed 'No Child Tax' Stirs Controversy: First Forced Abortions now Pressured into Pregnancy". Posted on What's on Weibo August 18th of 2018.
Link to the article: https://www.whatsonweibo.com
The following idea was proposed by Chinese academics along with other theoretical policies meant to help ease the demographic crisis in mainland China. To further implement the new 'Two Child Policy' following the 30 years of the strictly enforced 'One Child Policy' the idea was to add on a "maternity fund" to people under the age of 40 who don't have a second child. On popular Chinese social media (Weibo) outrage was sparked.
The family tax was meant to encourage families into having more children after years of only allowing one has mellowed and slowed down the thinking of many singles and couples on the idea of children. While the idea was meant to help aid families who're having more than one child and be given back once a certain age was reached, social media sees is more as a fine for not having a second child. Recently there have been articles arising about whether having a baby is a state affair or not. The government would like to say yes, but the outrage of women on social media says otherwise. "They do not treat us as humans, they do not treat us as women. They are treating us as fertility resources." -Hou Hongbin (weibo)
In addition, there have been more government efforts to increase the birth rate, which has since decreased since 2017 by over half a million, by proposing to lower the marrying age in China. This was met with social outcry as well. Seemingly, the ideas are not appealing to couples or singles to marry faster or have children faster.
Despite all this, none of the proposed policies are implemented currently and many are being criticized harshly not only on social media but by other news sources and academics. Many suggest that the policies will only force the opposite of the intended result. Furthermore, having a child is more of an issue of expense rather than want in many cases, which even with the maternity tax, the young couples simply cannot afford.
Link to the article: https://www.whatsonweibo.com
The following idea was proposed by Chinese academics along with other theoretical policies meant to help ease the demographic crisis in mainland China. To further implement the new 'Two Child Policy' following the 30 years of the strictly enforced 'One Child Policy' the idea was to add on a "maternity fund" to people under the age of 40 who don't have a second child. On popular Chinese social media (Weibo) outrage was sparked.
The family tax was meant to encourage families into having more children after years of only allowing one has mellowed and slowed down the thinking of many singles and couples on the idea of children. While the idea was meant to help aid families who're having more than one child and be given back once a certain age was reached, social media sees is more as a fine for not having a second child. Recently there have been articles arising about whether having a baby is a state affair or not. The government would like to say yes, but the outrage of women on social media says otherwise. "They do not treat us as humans, they do not treat us as women. They are treating us as fertility resources." -Hou Hongbin (weibo)
In addition, there have been more government efforts to increase the birth rate, which has since decreased since 2017 by over half a million, by proposing to lower the marrying age in China. This was met with social outcry as well. Seemingly, the ideas are not appealing to couples or singles to marry faster or have children faster.
Despite all this, none of the proposed policies are implemented currently and many are being criticized harshly not only on social media but by other news sources and academics. Many suggest that the policies will only force the opposite of the intended result. Furthermore, having a child is more of an issue of expense rather than want in many cases, which even with the maternity tax, the young couples simply cannot afford.
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