The government is again trying to insert itself into women’s childbearing decisions, knocking on doors and making calls with questions some find downright invasive.
The first time a government worker encouraged Yumi Yang to have a baby, she thought little of it. She and her husband were registering their marriage at a local office in northeastern China, and the worker gave them free prenatal vitamins, which she chalked up to the government trying to be helpful.
When an official later called to ask if she had taken them, and then called again after she did get pregnant to track her progress, Ms. Yang shrugged those questions off as well intentioned, too. But then officials showed up at her door after she had given birth, asking to take a photograph of her with her baby for their files. That was too much.
“When they came to my home, that was really ridiculous,” said Ms. Yang, 28. “I felt a little disgusted.”
Faced with a declining population that threatens economic growth, the Chinese government is responding with a time-tested tactic: inserting itself into this most intimate of choices for women, whether or not to have a child.
Officials are not just going door to door to ask women about their plans. They have partnered with universities to develop courses on having a “positive view of marriage and childbearing.” At high-profile political gatherings, officials are spreading the message wherever they can.
Well… Isn’t that ironic?
Too many spoons when all you need is a knife
Too many dudes when all you need is a wife.
It really did rain on my wedding day, but nothing felt ironic about it.
To be fair, the one child policy is pretty misunderstood by most people
Why because it didn’t apply to most Chinese families? A two child limit did for most though, and that’s still below the replacement rate. I think the irony sticks
Something you learn in flight school is how not to over-correct.
PID tuning is an art.
I love that all of the countries of the world tend to experience ups and downs with birth rate. However, only China, does away with the complexities of economic incentives, fiddly laws, educational programs, and delicate immigration policies. Rather, the government approach is simply, “stop having children!” “Now have more children!” “Go!”
Why are you assuming they aren’t trying to make having children more appealing by expanding access to family planning services, healthcare, and childcare? The article literally says they’re also doing those things.
Lol they’re worse than my parents asking for grand children
It’s just one little lifelong commitment and millions of dollars… What’s the problem? Sure, the planets ecosystems are collapsing and the future may be horrific, but I want to experience grandkids, and you only exist for my desires and my needs!
If mine did that I would present them my vas deferens in a manila envelope with two little grease stains showing through the paper and sharpied in my off hand “The future you built when you voted for Reagan.”
I feel like a lot of that is the medical system’s job. I did get footprinted as a baby born in Massachusetts.
Yeah I mean the actually article also states
Some women told The Times they appreciated the outreach because they felt cared for. Women have also lauded other parts of the pro-fertility campaign, which include expanding child-care resources and encouraging men to help out at home.
All in all it sounds like there are efforts to make having children seem more attractive to young couples and some local officials are being overzealous about it. This is also happening in a context where abortion is legal, easy to access, and highly prevalent.
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If I was a chinese girl, I’d be lesbian
