Suchergebnisse

This book presents a comprehensive analysis of China's imbalanced sex ratio at birth and marriage market, and the implications of these phenomena for population development and families. China's persistently high sex ratio at birth (SRB) since the early 1980s has led to serious gender imbalance and male marriage squeeze. After examining the quality of existing data on SRB, the authors provide their estimates of the sex-selective abortion rate, describe the trends and geographical patterns in SRB, and disaggregate changes in SRB by birth order and province. Special attention is given to the number and proportion of missing girls between 1980 and 2010. Based on the quantitative analyses, the book projects the implications of the severe gender imbalance for China's population development and the future dynamics of the marriage market, including trends in age at first marriage, the proportion of never-married, the age structure of surplus males, and the life cycle of bare branch families. The book will appeal to scholars and students of demography, sociology, and China studies, especially those interested in China's population and contemporary society.

This volume documents how families, communities and some groups (single men, young 'scarce' women, parents) adapt and adjust to recent demographic shifts in China and India. It discuss how demographic change interacts with other processes of change, including changes with respect to economic development and globalization, gender, class, caste, families, migration and work. The chapters offer micro-level analyses contextualized in larger processes of change and push further existing understandings of the consequences of the demographic imbalance between men and women in China and/or India, particularly from a gender/ feminist perspective. As such this book will be of interest to scholars and students in population studies, sociology, international development, gender studies, and Asian studies.

This volume documents how families, communities and some groups (single men, young 'scarce' women, parents) adapt and adjust to recent demographic shifts in China and India. It discuss how demographic change interacts with other processes of change, including changes with respect to economic development and globalization, gender, class, caste, families, migration and work. The chapters offer micro-level analyses contextualized in larger processes of change and push further existing understandings of the consequences of the demographic imbalance between men and women in China and/or India, particularly from a gender/ feminist perspective. As such this book will be of interest to scholars and students in population studies, sociology, international development, gender studies, and Asian studies.

How has the history of the twentieth century affected the extent of female disadvantage in child survival in China, South Korea and India, and how has this in turn shaped spousal availability and marriage payments? These three countries have similar kinship systems which generate discrimination against girls, and they show the highest levels of excess female child mortality in the world. This article explores how the extent of excess female child mortality was influenced by historical events in these countries in the period 1920–90, and discusses some of the substantial social ramifications of resulting changes in sex ratios. The authors hypothesize that these changes encouraged the retention of brideprice in China while dowry became the norm in India, and illustrate how these demographic changes have influenced the extent and manifestations of violence against women.

Abstract
China's total fertility rate fell below replacement level in the 1990s. From the 1970s the fertility rate declined dramatically, mainly as a consequence of the national population policy whose aim has been to limit birth numbers, control population growth and boost economic growth. Having achieved such a low fertility rate, how will China's population policy evolve in the future? This paper first reviews the history of China's population policy since 1970 in three stages: 1970–1979; 1980–1999; and after 2000. We explore the impacts of China's population policy, including relief of pressure on China's environment and resources, fertility decline, the unexpectedly high male-biased sex ratio at birth (SRB), the coming shortage of labour force, and the rapid aging of the population, and extinction of racial and cultural diversity. We also investigate ethical issues raised by the implementation of the policy and its results. Finally we introduce the controversy over potential adjustment of the policy, acknowledging the problems faced by western countries with low fertility and the counter-measures they have taken. We offer some suggestions that might be appropriate in the Chinese context.

Zuo D, Wu Z, Li S. Age and intergenerational exchange among older parents in rural ChinaInt J Soc Welfare 2011: 20: S30–S46 © 2011 The Author(s), International Journal of Social Welfare © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare.This study examined life‐course differences in the flow of intergenerational exchange in rural China. The analysis used longitudinal data and growth curve models to decompose the distinct effects of age and cohort on the receipt and provision of economic and instrumental support among elder parents and their adult children. The study highlighted the importance of examining the age trajectories of intergenerational support according to cohort‐specific experiences and family life stage. There was a net age effect on intergenerational exchange, with elder parents tending to receive more support from children over time. However, there were indeed significant cohort effects that represented socio‐historical variation in the relationship between aging and intergenerational exchange. The study also observed gender differences in the flow and growth of intergenerational exchange.

The apparently inexorable rise in the proportion of "missing girls" in much of East and South Asia has attracted much attention among researchers and policymakers. An encouraging trend was suggested by the case of South Korea, where child sex ratios (males to females under age 5) were the highest in Asia but peaked in the mid‐1990s and normalized thereafter. Using census data, we examine whether similar trends have begun to manifest themselves in the two most populous countries of this region, China and India. The data indicate that child sex ratios are peaking in these countries, and in many subnational regions are beginning to trend toward lower, more normal values. This suggests that, with continuing economic and social development and vigorous public policy efforts to reduce son preference, the "missing girls" phenomenon could eventually disappear in Asia.