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Her.meneutics is edited by associate editor Katelyn Beaty and online editor Sarah Pulliam Bailey.

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January 19, 2010

China's Own Marriage Crisis

Gender imbalance due to sex-specific abortions signals imminent crisis in the Chinese family.

Alicia Cohn

Family planning has become a controversial phrase in China, due to the government’s One Child Policy, a vast social experiment launched in 1979 to cap population growth and speed up economic development. State media reported recently that more than 24 million men in China are expected to be without spouses by year 2020. This is the latest consequence of a policy that has led to utility-based, sex-specific abortions (when faced with only one choice, boys have greater economic potential for parents) and created a critical gender imbalance.

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The report, from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, raises critical questions about what the Chinese nuclear family will look like in 10 years, or whether it will even exist. Along with the impending marriage crisis and already endangered family unit, subsequent problems will likely include increased underage marriage and forced prostitution.

Zhao Baige, vice-minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission of China, maintains that the widespread use of contraceptives (85 percent of reproduction-age Chinese women use them) is a sign of success. “I’m not saying what we have done is 100 percent right, but I’m sure we are going in the right direction and now 1.3 billion people have benefited,” she told China Daily.

Her perspective seems short-term. Workers ages 50 to 64 make up over half of China’s work force today, a result of the 1950 population swell. “[O]ver the coming generation, China’s prospective manpower growth rate is zero,” reports the Far Eastern Economic Review. In comparison, think of America’s baby-boomer generation, which is slowly leaving the work force and becoming dependent on the next, smaller generation.

Government interference into the family unit is scary and often has unintended consequences. Perhaps just as alarming, though, is that, according to the CIA’s World Factbook, America’s estimated total fertility rate is 2.05 (children per woman). China’s is 1.79. That means the U.S. hovers just above the replacement birth rate of an average two children per women, while the U.S. abortion policy (one of many factors influencing the numbers) is purely voluntary.

I have reason to be thankful that my parents were not forced to choose whether I was a sound enough investment to let me live and be their one source of care in old age. But to me (unmarried, without children), all of these statistics and related serious economic forecast also shed new light on the topic of marriage. Recently, The Wall Street Journal reported on the seeming effect the economic recession was having on marriages in the U.S.:

. . . the Great Recession is leading some spouses to develop a renewed appreciation for the social and economic solidarity engendered by marriage and family life. While it is true that the recession has been a source of harmful stress for many couples and families, a recent Pew Research survey found that about four in 10 Americans report that the recession has brought their “family closer together.” Thus, today’s “tough times” seem to be reminding a large minority of couples that marriage is not only about an intense, continuing emotional connection.

In other words, America might be rediscovering that marriage is about more than a legal status. The institution of marriage brings social stability, and I’ve always understood that biblically, God intended us to relate to society through family. The practical aspects of marriage must be part of the divine plan, and it might be wise for us Christians to consider the idea that God has an economic plan too: one that accounted for men and women, and multiplying generations. A country like China that intentionally threatens the family structure — or even one that usually downplays its importance, such as America — is bound to face the consequences of replacing that system with something man-made.

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Posted by Katelyn Beaty on January 19, 2010 9:29 AM

Comments

Fascinating perspective. Thank you.

Posted By: Jenn | January 19, 2010 11:45 AM

Yet another reason (among many) to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to China. Who knows, given their gender imbalance, single Chinese Christian men may be a solution to single American Christian women's lack of suitable marriage mates. I am not suggesting "missionary dating" here, rather saying that each additional single Christian man equals one more possible marriage prospect for a single Christian sister. You will have to learn Mandarin, but from personal experience, it's fun. And China is really a great place to visit, study, work, and do (covert) mission work.

For the record, the last time I was in China, my motivation for sharing the gospel to young men was not about them as potential husband material for myself. For my other single sisters in Christ, maybe.

Posted By: Sam | January 19, 2010 2:56 PM

Need to clear something up - something that is being falsely promoted in the news is that all Chinese are forced to have only one child. This is simply *not* the case.

I know people who have lived there.

Its strictly the Han Chinese that have this policy (they do make up 91.5% of all Chinese) and even then they aren't required to have abortions - its a fine. Which means they have to pay money. Granted not all of them have the money to pay that fine, hence the abortions, but it would be awesome if an American news organization would actually explain the facts instead of making huge sweeping generalizations that aren't completely true.

Minority Chinese are not limited, nor are the people who live on farms who need the children (labor) to survive (though perhaps they too are doing "selective" abortions since boys can do more work than girls?)

Also, depending on who is in charge of a region is how the punishments for breaking that law take place - one leader may not care; another may be a tyrant.

The 1 child policy is still not good at all though, so please don't think I'm supporting the Chinese in this; I just think that more information needs to be reported.

Posted By: Allie | January 21, 2010 2:09 PM

The article states: "America might be rediscovering that marriage is about more than a legal status. The institution of marriage brings social stability, and I’ve always understood that biblically, God intended us to relate to society through family. The practical aspects of marriage must be part of the divine plan, and it might be wise for us Christians to consider the idea that God has an economic plan too: one that accounted for men and women, and multiplying generations. A country like China that intentionally threatens the family structure — or even one that usually downplays its importance, such as America — is bound to face the consequences of replacing that system with something man-made."


That has a great deal to do with the need for a clearly defined definition of marriage: Between one man and woman.

Posted By: Ben | January 22, 2010 10:12 AM

Dan and Christian Lawyer, thank you for your comments that are related to this post. Unfortunately the exchange has drifted away from the topic at hand and has distracted other readers and commenters in the process. As one of the blog administrators, I ask that you swap e-mail addresses and take the debate into a private forum.

Thank you in advance,
Katelyn Beaty

Posted By: Katelyn Beaty | January 22, 2010 11:48 AM

Katelyn, It may be difficult to "exchange emails" privately in a public forum. So, if CL and Dan would like to take this discussion private, please email BJ Community Manager at
onlineresponse at christianitytoday.com and I will be happy to facilitate the email exchange.

"Her"meneutics is not the best or proper forum for your continued discussion/debate on homosexuality, so please find another area or means for continuing it.

BJ
Community Manager

Posted By: BJ Community Manager | January 22, 2010 2:02 PM

Is the 'one child policy' still at work in China? I thought they dismissed it in the rural provinces?

Posted By: Rachel | August 4, 2010 8:07 AM

24 million men without spouse, may be they have to move on from there by 2020.

Posted By: Beth Adams - Save Marriage Lady | September 10, 2010 9:56 AM

This article (and comments) helped me realise just how important marriage is for a stable society. The dynamics of society are in a constant state of change and marriage is a island of stability in the middle of this, despite the naysayers.

Posted By: Anthony | December 15, 2010 5:54 AM

I totally agree with all the responses in this article. Glad to read about this article. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Posted By: Super | May 12, 2011 8:33 PM

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