Period 1
November 18th, 2013
Argumentative Essay: China’s One Child Policy What is the cost to solve one problem? In 1979, Deng Xiaoping introduces China’s one-child policy with the hopes to slow down their population and assist in improving their living circumstances (Pierson). China has always been considered as the largest country in the world. Because of their vast population, they are at risk of overpopulation and not having enough resources to sustain their people. While it may be true that China’s one-child policy provides some benefits in establishing a better overall society, it is only temporary. China’s one-child policy has negative long-term direct and indirect impacts on their citizens through the way their policy pressures traditional and cultural factors, and creates economical and social problems for their aging population. Even in modern day, many Chinese citizens still follow cultural and traditional expectations which emphasize the concepts of loyalty and responsibility for their nation and their family. Knowing this, China’s government promotes propaganda that morally enforces the people to consider their role in society by devoting themselves to being good citizens—they should follow what the government advises. Most of the propaganda the government makes encourage their citizens to have less children and at an older age to show dedication to their country. Examples of propaganda for the one-child policy include the slogans “Late, Long, and Few” and “Have Fewer, Better Children to Create Prosperity for the Next Generation” (Fitzpatrick and Rosenthal). Not only are the Chinese very loyal to their country, but they also have a strong tradition in preferring males over females. Based on their common beliefs, females tend to get married and move away with their spouse. Males are more valued in the aspects that they are the gender that abides filial piety; they are envisioned to carry on the family name and take care of their
Cited: Fitzpatrick, Laura. "China 's One-Child Policy." Time 27 July 2009: n. pag. Print. Jowett, John. "China: A Case Study." China: The One, Two, Three, Four and More Child Policy (n.d.): n. pag. Print. Pierson, David. "China 's Elderly to Grow into a Crisis." Los Angeles Times 06 July 2009: n. pag. Print. Rosenthal, Elisabeth. "Bias for Boys Leads to Sale of Baby Girls in China." The New York Times. The New York Times, 20 July 2003. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.