"Father Favors My Nonexistent Brother Over Me": Gender Equity Within Context of China's One-Child Policy

• In Event: Research on Women and Equity

Abstract

The Chinese one-child policy functions as a unique window to observe gender relations. Historically in China, “son preference” was prevalent. Yet, with the restriction of one child per family, many people were rendered sonless, and had to find peace in the notion of gender equality. Delving into the life experiences of Chinese young females, this study revealed that within nuclear families, daughters were indeed largely treated as if they were sons, which demonstrates people’s potential to overcome previously-existing discrimination when circumstances required. However, outside the realm of nuclear families, the treatment of daughters as akin to sons faltered, dissolved or backfired in various ways, revealing that true equality cannot be achieved without a radical confrontation of the existing power relations.

Author

• Yijie Wang, University of Glasgow