To what extent did the one-child policy in China have a detrimental impact on
social and economic stability from 1979 onwards?
Introduction:
The one-child policy had been introduced in 1979 by the Chinese government to attenuate the social
and economic problems due to the rapidly growing population of 1 billion (Goh, 2011). The Chinese
government had seen this as a concern and therefore placed the country under a restriction of just one-
child by issuing letters to the public to put the policy in place (Weiliang Nie, 2010). In defiance to
maintain population control, the outcomes for many Chinese people had in fact been damaging, which
will be outlined within this essay. Through probing into a culmination of underlying social factors such as
the decline in fertility rates, influence of propaganda, and female infanticide, as well as economic factors
such as rise of household saving rates, agricultural reform and government health provisions, this essay
will also reach an evaluative conclusion whilst considering the two main impacts of the policy, in this
case social and economic. In terms of economic stability, it can be argued was far from detrimental in
comparison to the negative social effects of the one-child policy, as economic growth had fluctuated,
which had proved the one-child policy in terms of economic factors the one-child policy proved to a
success to a large extent, in contrast to the negative social impacts which had caused much resentment.
Although it can be argued that China’s one-child policy had to a great extent impacted on social stability
from 1979 onwards in a negative way, this project will delve into the view that the one-child policy had
damaged economic stability to a moderate extent as well, as the so called ‘economic boom’ following
the introduction of the one-child policy had only initially led to stability in other words had short-term
success and therefore, there were limitations within the economic achievements as a result of the one-
child policy.
Section 1: The upsurge of social instability
This section of the dissertation underpins the impacts of the one-child policy through the introduction of
repressive measures and radicalised attitudes towards the Chinese population directly from the Chinese
governing bodies as well as the attitudes of the Chinese populace. As a result, the consequences of the
unprecedented policy in terms of social stability, had been detrimental as it had altered China’s social
fabric to a significant extent, especially the impacts on women. The aim of this section is to thoroughly
examine the key underlying causes in catalysing social instability through factors such as the rise of
female infanticide and imbalanced sex ratios as well as attitudes towards females, and the influence of
propaganda. However, through critical evaluation, this section will also consider how although social
factors were significant, they were not entirely detrimental, through intrinsic causes such as the
introduction of education laws and some benefits to women. The overall judgement concludes that the
one-child policy had a detrimental impact on social stability to a significant extent.
Contextual stereotypes towards Chinese females
social and economic stability from 1979 onwards?
Introduction:
The one-child policy had been introduced in 1979 by the Chinese government to attenuate the social
and economic problems due to the rapidly growing population of 1 billion (Goh, 2011). The Chinese
government had seen this as a concern and therefore placed the country under a restriction of just one-
child by issuing letters to the public to put the policy in place (Weiliang Nie, 2010). In defiance to
maintain population control, the outcomes for many Chinese people had in fact been damaging, which
will be outlined within this essay. Through probing into a culmination of underlying social factors such as
the decline in fertility rates, influence of propaganda, and female infanticide, as well as economic factors
such as rise of household saving rates, agricultural reform and government health provisions, this essay
will also reach an evaluative conclusion whilst considering the two main impacts of the policy, in this
case social and economic. In terms of economic stability, it can be argued was far from detrimental in
comparison to the negative social effects of the one-child policy, as economic growth had fluctuated,
which had proved the one-child policy in terms of economic factors the one-child policy proved to a
success to a large extent, in contrast to the negative social impacts which had caused much resentment.
Although it can be argued that China’s one-child policy had to a great extent impacted on social stability
from 1979 onwards in a negative way, this project will delve into the view that the one-child policy had
damaged economic stability to a moderate extent as well, as the so called ‘economic boom’ following
the introduction of the one-child policy had only initially led to stability in other words had short-term
success and therefore, there were limitations within the economic achievements as a result of the one-
child policy.
Section 1: The upsurge of social instability
This section of the dissertation underpins the impacts of the one-child policy through the introduction of
repressive measures and radicalised attitudes towards the Chinese population directly from the Chinese
governing bodies as well as the attitudes of the Chinese populace. As a result, the consequences of the
unprecedented policy in terms of social stability, had been detrimental as it had altered China’s social
fabric to a significant extent, especially the impacts on women. The aim of this section is to thoroughly
examine the key underlying causes in catalysing social instability through factors such as the rise of
female infanticide and imbalanced sex ratios as well as attitudes towards females, and the influence of
propaganda. However, through critical evaluation, this section will also consider how although social
factors were significant, they were not entirely detrimental, through intrinsic causes such as the
introduction of education laws and some benefits to women. The overall judgement concludes that the
one-child policy had a detrimental impact on social stability to a significant extent.
Contextual stereotypes towards Chinese females
