Losing an only child: the one-child policy and elderly care in China

Abstract

Abstract

China has had the one-child policy for more than 30 years. It reduced China’s population growth within a short period of time and promoted economic development. However, it has also led to difficulties, and this paper focuses on those which pertain to ageing and losing one’s only child. Approximately one million families have lost their only child in China. They suffer mentally and physically, and sometimes face social stigma and economic loss. What worries them most, however, is elderly care, which has become a severe crisis for the families who have lost their only children. This article draws upon several qualitative studies and 12 cases reported by the Chinese media in 2012 and 2013, and existing laws and policies for supporting those who have lost only children. It also analyses the current elderly care situation facing these families. The Chinese government has recognized the predicament and provides some help, which is increasing but is still not always adequate. To both sustain China’s economic development and limit population growth, it is essential for the government to reform the one-child policy and provide a comprehensive support system for the families who have lost their only children, including financial relief and elderly care, and work to reduce stigma against these families.

Résumé

La politique de l’enfant unique est appliquée en Chine depuis plus de 30 ans. Elle rapidement a réduit la croissance démographique et a favorisé le développement économique. Néanmoins, elle a aussi engendré des difficultés, comme le vieillissement et la perte d’un enfant unique, sur lesquelles cet article se centre. Près d’un million de familles ont perdu leur seul enfant en Chine. Elles ont souffert psychologiquement et physiquement et ont parfois subi une stigmatisation sociale et une perte économique. Néanmoins, leur plus grande préoccupation concerne les soins aux personnes âgées qui représentent désormais un grave problème pour les familles ayant perdu leur unique enfant. Cet article se fonde sur plusieurs études qualitatives et 12 cas relatés par les médias chinois en 2012 et 2013, ainsi que les lois et politiques existantes pour soutenir les parents ayant perdu leur unique enfant. Il analyse aussi la situation actuelle des soins aux personnes âgées à laquelle sont confrontées ces familles. Le Gouvernement chinois a reconnu leurs difficultés et prodigue un peu d’aide, qui augmente, mais demeure parfois insuffisante. Pour soutenir le développement économique chinois et limiter la croissance démographique, il est essentiel que le Gouvernement réforme la politique de l’enfant unique et assure un système de soutien global aux familles qui ont perdu leur unique enfant, notamment des aides financières et des soins aux personnes âgées, et qu’il s’emploie à réduire la stigmatisation dont ces familles font l’objet.

Resumen

Durante más de 30 años, China ha tenido una política de hijo único, la cual redujo el crecimiento de la población china en un corto plazo y promovió el desarrollo económico. Sin embargo, también ha causado dificultades y este artículo se enfoca en aquellas relacionadas con envejecer y perder un hijo único. Aproximadamente un millón de familias chinas han perdido un hijo único. Sufren mental y físicamente, y a veces enfrentan estigma social y pérdidas económicas. No obstante, lo que más les preocupa es el cuidado de ancianos, que ahora es una crisis grave para las familias que han perdido su hijo único. Este artículo se basa en varios estudios cualitativos y 12 casos reportados por los medios de comunicación de China en los años 2012 y 2013, así como en las leyes y políticas vigentes que apoyan a las personas que han perdido un hijo único. Además, analiza la situación actual de estas familias con relación al cuidado de ancianos. El gobierno chino ha reconocido el aprieto y ofrece alguna ayuda, que está incrementando pero no siempre es adecuada. Para sustentar el desarrollo económico de China y limitar el crecimiento de su población, es esencial que el gobierno reforme la política de hijo único y establezca un sistema de apoyo integral para las familias que han perdido un hijo único, que incluya ayuda financiera y cuidado de ancianos, y que trabaje para reducir el estigma contra estas familias.

Keywords:

• one-child policy
• child loss
• elderly care
• medical care
• social security and benefits
• pensions
• China

Notes

* The one-child policy was launched with the “Open letter to all the members of the Communist Party and the Communist Youth League regarding the family planning issue in China”, issued by the Chinese Government, 25 September 1980.

† Shidu is the transliteration of the Chinese words (losing an only child).

* The terms “shidu families” and “shidu parents” are used interchangeably here. Since all the relevant policies in China target families, the term “shidu families” will be used most of the time, except when parents are particularly referred to.

† In some parts of China, a couple with rural household registration are allowed to have another child if the first child is a girl; in some ethnic minority regions, a couple can have more than two children.

** Mentioned in: Resolutions on Deepening the Reforms on Several Major Issues, released by the Chinese government, 15 November 2013.

* See the 1980 Open Letter. But the Letter did not mention the risks of parents losing their only children.

† China’s household registration system, introduced in early 1950s and still in force today, divides its citizens into those with urban household registration and those with rural household registration. The former were entitled to jobs, free or cheap housing and medical care, and better education, while the latter had nothing except free house sites and user rights to farm land which was collectively owned by the villages. Apart from joining the army or going to college, rural people were not allowed to migrate to the cities of their own free will and had very few opportunities to obtain urban registration. Although rural people are allowed to migrate to cities without changing their rural household registration as part of China’s urbanization, people with rural household registration are not entitled to the same welfare package as their urban counterparts. Since very recently, in some provinces, farmers whose land is expropriated by the state are also eligible for the urban pension, a new policy practised in very few parts of China at this writing.

* I am not aware of comparative data for non-shidu elderly. However, to my knowledge, the large proportion of shidu elderly in such difficulties cannot be imagined among non-shidu elderly.

* A few regions have more rigid criteria.For example, in Shanghai the policy stipulates that eligible families include only those whose only child died before the age of 16 years. See: http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/shanghai/node2314/node3124/node3134/node3136/u6ai1599.html

† The law stipulates that local governments should provide necessary help to parents whose only child is deceased or disabled, who are not going to give birth to or adopt another child.