Comments on: As China Booms, Millions of Children Are Left Behind

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:49:51 +0000

Lindsay,

Good point.

Yes, you will have the opportunity to chat about such issues with women in China. E.g., “Claire”, a master’s student in education from Beida, who I have asked to help us with part of our trip (she will meet us in Shanghai).

By: Chris Carr

Chris Carr — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:33:07 +0000

Kerry,

Excellent point.

By: Fatih Sunor

Fatih Sunor — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 23:41:01 +0000

I think this is an issue that should be 100% equally shared between father and mother. China, after the Chinese revolution adopted a equally shared unit family life between man and woman. However there are significant differences between the applications in the rural areas and cities. You can have some more information on the regarding China and child care that the western world today still discusses.

By: Fatih Sunor

Fatih Sunor — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:22:02 +0000

By: Athena Schwartz

Athena Schwartz — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 02:52:40 +0000

This is definately a tough topic, but I wouldn’t say it is just a choice women have to make. My husband and I have already had many discussions about children and we both agree that we don’t want to put them in day care or hire a nanny to take care of them all day. Most likely I will take time off work for a couple years, but if I want to keep working, Richard said he would quit his job to stay home with them.

Although I agree with a lot of what Lindsey said, I definately wouldn’t say it’s a dillemma males don’t deal with - especially single Dads. I think Richard brings up the children issue more often than I do.

By: Kerry Huang

Kerry Huang — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:06:55 +0000

One reason why the children are left behind is because the parents can not legally bring them along. Movement in and out of cities is highly regulated. A person must have proof of a job offer before being able to legally move into a new city. Once moved, the citizen must register at the local police office and carry an ID card at all times. Even visitors (depending on length of visit) must register at the local police office. My dad had to register while he lived there for a few year for work. When I visited him I had to register too.

Working parents who try to bring along their children will find that the children can not attend the local school. I remember reading in an article that the Chinese law is written in a way that country side children can not migrate with their parents into the cities and attend city schools. I think it is a way to prevent massive movements from the countryside into the cities.

By: Lindsay Yoshitomi

Lindsay Yoshitomi — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:35:37 +0000

I think as women who are currently pursuing our MBA Degrees, we will always be faced with two careers – the one we get paid for outside of the home, and the one we do at home, raising our children to become contributing members of the society. Many of us will be torn between climbing that ladder of corporate success and giving it up, temporarily or permanently, to have children. It’s a dilemma our male colleagues do not have to deal with.

It will be interesting to discuss this with women in China. I wonder if we’ll have the opportunity to be around women in business? I also wonder how Chinese men feel about the women who pursue their capitalist dreams. Or will discussions about this be in bad taste? As the women leave the farms for jobs in the city, I’m sure they do so with a heavy heart. Just as our society has become a generation of latch-key kids, it’s not so hard to understand that this can’t happen elsewhere.