Editing Sex-selective abortion (section)

=== One-child policy ===
[[File:Danshan Nongguang Village Bulletin board.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[one child policy]] in [[China]] has contributed to the imbalanced sex ratios. Image shows a community bulletin board in Nonguang Village, [[Sichuan province]], China, keeping track of the town's female population, listing recent births by name and noting that several thousand yuan of fines for unauthorized births remain unpaid from the previous year.]]
Following the 1949 creation of the People's Republic of China, the issue of population control came into the national spotlight. In the early years of the Republic, leaders believed that telling citizens to reduce their fertility was enough, repealing laws banning [[contraception]] and instead promoting its use. However, the contraceptives were not widely available, both because of lack of supply and because of cultural taboo against discussing sex. Efforts were slowed following the famine of 1959–61 but were resumed shortly thereafter with virtually the same results. Then, in 1964, the Family Planning Office was established to enforce stricter guidelines regarding fertility and it was moderately successful.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Henneberger S | chapter = History of the Policy. | title = China's One-Child Policy | veditors = Henneberger S | date = 2007 | url = http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall07/Henneberger/History.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100205073709/http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall07/Henneberger/History.html | archive-date = 5 February 2010 }}</ref>

In 1979, the government adopted the [[One-Child Policy]], which limited many families to one child, unless specified by provincial regulations. It was instituted as an attempt to boost the Chinese economy. Under it, families who break rules regarding the number of children they are allowed are given various punishments (primarily monetary), dependent upon the province in which they live.<ref>{{cite report | title = History of the One-Child Policy | work = All Girls Allowed | date = 2013 | url = https://www.allgirlsallowed.org/about-us }}</ref>

As stated above, the sex ratios of a province are largely determined by the type of restriction placed upon the family, pointing to the conclusion that much of the imbalance in sex ratio in China can be attributed to the policy. Research by Junhong (2001) found that many parents are willing to pay to ensure that their child is male (especially if their first child is female), but will not do the same to ensure their child is female.<ref name="Junhong_2001" /> Likely, fear of the harsh monetary punishments of the One-Child Policy make ensuring a son's birth a smart investment. Therefore, son's cultural and economic importance to families and the large expenses associated with multiple children are primary factors leading to China's disparate sex ratio.

In 2013, China announced plans to formally change the One-Child policy, making it less stringent. The National People's Congress has changed the policy to allow couples to have two children, so long as one of the partners is an only child. This change was not sparked by sex ratios, but rather by an aging population that is causing the workforce to become increasingly smaller. It is estimated that this new law will lead to two million more births per year and could cause a baby boom in China. In 2015, China officially relaxed its one child law.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-38714949| title=China birth rate up after one-child change| work=BBC News| date=January 23, 2017| access-date=June 20, 2018| archive-date=August 19, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819214358/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-38714949| url-status=live}}</ref> Unfortunately, many of China's social problems are based on overpopulation. So, it is unclear if this new law will actually lead to women being more valued in Chinese society as the number of citizens increases.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/chinas-one-child-policy-to-change-in-the-new-year-9028601.html |title= China's one-child policy to change in the new year|date=December 29, 2013|work = The Independent|language=en|access-date=October 23, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023095846/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/chinas-one-child-policy-to-change-in-the-new-year-9028601.html|url-status=live}}</ref>