Submitted By: Amy Linker

We have all heard of the one-child policy that was enacted in China in 1979 by Deng Xiaoping. This policy has caused many problems for the Chinese people. One such problem is discussed in the post, Little Emperors (see April 26, 2007). Another problem is discussed in length in CBS’s 60 Minutes Report: China: Too Many Men.

This article and news report states that there are 120 boys born for every 100 girls. This imbalance has come about due to a mass number of abortions of female fetuses (over 8 million in the first 20 years of this laws enactment). The abortion issue became such an problem that finding out the sex of your unborn child through an ultrasound became illegal. This problem stems from an age old tradition of sons taking care of their parents when they get too old to care for themselves. This, male dominance in the family, and the expectation of a large dowry from a bride, has made sons more valuable than daughters.

Oddly enough, with a surplus of over 40 million bachelors, the tables have turned. Baby girls are now more valuable, although the Chinese still have it engrained in their minds that boys are more desirable. Families want their sons to marry, as women have a pacifying effect on testosterone ridden males. Such a gender imbalance causes an increase in male lead violent crimes and activities that China has seen since the law was enacted. Only men that are well off have ease finding a bride these days in China.

Many other problems have arisen with this newfound desire for girls, such as girls being sold off for marriage, kidnapping, and sexual slavery. Poor folks from the country side are easily persuaded to sell their baby girls for food or money.

“The Chinese government confiscated a large plastic bag full of 28 girl babies, ranging in age from 2 to 5 months,” said Hudson.

The baby girls, whose photos were posted on the Internet, were found stuffed together in plastic bags lashed onto the roof rack of a cross-country bus. Family members had sold them to traffickers for as little as $8 apiece.

For more information on this problem check out the article: Babies in Tote Bags Lead to Gangs Arrest

This gender imbalance does not exist solely in China. There is also a similar imbalance in India. The reasons for such an imbalance in India are very much the same. Boys are valued more than girls. Although, India does not have a one-child policy, this problem still persists due to aborted female fetuses. For more on India’s gender imbalance see the articles, India: Abortion of Female Fetuses Leads to Gender Imbalance and, For India’s Daughters, A Dark Birth Day.

I could not imagine such a gender discrepancy in the United States. Although, our MBA program and most other MBA programs in addition to the professional work environment has a similar gender imbalance. I wonder if this is an implication that we too value men more than women, even though it is too a much smaller degree. Will the value of gender ever balance out and if so, how will it change business and the work environment, since these currently are male dominated areas?

Some additional questions to think about:

China has been taking measures to change the problems that have occurred from the one-child policy (they have not yet reversed the policy itself), such as trying to up the value of daughters by making annual payments to families with a girl, and subsidizing school costs for female students. These initiatives are helping to a very small degree. What do you think could be done to solve the problems that stem from the one-child policy?

What do you think may be some future implications, besides a rise in violent crime, on Chinese society from this gender imbalance?

Do you think this will affect the economy or business in China further down the road?

What effects will this have on an already male dominated business society?

Will the Chinese military pose more of a threat with an increasing number of expendable lives as more men, who are not able to marry and start a family, join the military?