December 14, 2015

What will China’s new policy mean for women?

Last month China announced it is to phase out it’s one-child policy, decades after introducing the population control measure. It’s good news for many families and young people, but what will it mean for China’s women?

I’ve been aware of the country’s policy, but until now had never though about it in too much detail. Recently however, I read a piece by an adopted Chinese girl who spoke of being abandoned and spending time in an orphanage before an American couple took her in as their own and it made me consider these policy changes in the light of gender equality and the women of China.

For both mothers, daughters and young women who hope to one day start a family, the phasing out and hopefully the complete abolishment of the one-child policy means that they will be not only more prominent in society, but more valued. Baby girls were often the children abandoned because families needed a male to work, provide and care for ageing parents and as it stands, many millions of men will never marry because there just aren’t enough females.

So if now families are able to have more than one child, the hope is that more girls will grow up supported by their families, become strong, independent members of society, have their voices heard and be valued. What can we do? Well, China, as every other country, will continue to make and adapt policies that work for the country, its people and the economy, but once the new generation of female voices start to be heard, it’ll be our responsibility to listen.

Stephanie Bolton

@StephanieBolton