@tiger public opinion and actual outcomes are not the same thing with this issue as the 2 child policy has just come into action this year therefore a whole lot more room for research and reports on this to come yet. Unless you actually know the number of couples that have conceived their second child this year already. Your suggestion of reporting old news from uk / us on stuff happening in China is awful advice - sorry
@eladi. To answer your question. I just get the impression that parents are under pressure as much as their kids to get high grades and entrance into top schools. That's just my view but you should research more on figures and reasons yourself for accuracy in your report as I've never had reason to
The two child policy was piloted last year.
There was an easing of restrictions in 2013. Very low uptake by eligible couples has caused concern and the reasons have been investigated, and been reported, globally.
Easing on restrictions if either parent was an only child you mean? Still too early to come to any conclusions then. 2 children been allowed in xinjiang for a few years (not a pilot) but I'm afraid this doesn't reflect the whole of China. The new policy probably doesn't expect or want a sudden explosion in population anyway, more like something to steadily increase in the future.
@tigertiger, i looked allot on the net, checked BBC,Washington post, the economist, and xinhua . some do mention the subjec but non is talking about it as thoroughly as i do . most only mention the main reason why chinese continue to have only one child, which is the cost. most dont mention the other reasons, and there are plenty. i think what im writing will shed new light on the matter .
@vicar, you are actually very right ! one of the reasons parents will only have one child is that they have a lot of pressure on them, to work hard to support the child financially and to maintain the standard that is expected from them as middle class urban chinese (which is the type of chinese my article is aiming on ) . this pressure makes them work hard and leaves them no time and energy to take care of more than one child.
'....leaves them no time and energy to take care of more than one child.'
eladi, clearly you know more about this than me. What I do know is that there were eight kids in my family when I was growing up and both parents went out to work; mother as a nurse which was not a cushy job. Not well-off, certainly never spoilt but equally never felt deprived of anything. I'd be interested in learning what standards parents perceive are expected of them and what is considered 'hard work'.
@nnoble the standards expected is having a decent place to live, having a car, be able to go out and enjoy life. also chinese find certain services and products not as safe and as good so they will use foreign services and products which will obviously be more expensive. parents are also expected to register the kid to a good kindergarten and pay for his expenses as living costs, books, presents to teachers in holidays, extracurricular courses. when kids are older parents are expected to help there child with buying a car and apartment.. about the working hard concept, also my parents work hard but they still had time for 3 kids, today's generation is more spoiled and a job that you leave in the morning and come back in the evening is considered hard work.
The 1 child policy changed in 2015 so it may be a bit premature to conduct any research in this field as there is not enough time to understand it. The only evidence you can present at this point is the number of people (rich urban Han) who violated this rule in spite of the restrictions and were fined for having a 2nd/3rd child.
People with an older child (middle/high/university) age (13-21) are not really going to run into bed and produce more offspring as they are already overburdened with one emperor/princess at home and in school.
Keep in mind that the average Han chinese has their first child at age 23-25. With a 10 yr old at home, people are not likely to make another brat at age 35 and begin the whole process again.
This policy has been in place since 1978 and it will take time for people to make the changes.
Rural Han Chinese have been making babies as they please because in spite of regulations because they dont register them or get an ID card. Discarding females is not uncommon. I personally know a woman (her step-daughter was my student) who found a baby on the railroad tracks and she adopted her. She is in middle school now. I am sure there will be many parents from the villages who will try to get amnesty for children born between 2012-2015. In other words, try to get them registered even though they were born when the restrictions were still in place.
@Campo: OK, but I don't think MOST rural Chinese have been doing what you say.
Please tell me were I used the word MOST in the paragraph relating to rural Han Chinese. I did NOT say some, all or most.
