One-Child Policy and Economic Explanation on Female Share of Crime in China

• In Event: Factors Influencing Female Offending and the Gender Gap

Abstract

After thirty-six years of enactment, the One-child Policy has dramatically changed gender structure in the new generation in China because of prevailing prenatal sex choice. This research aims to quantitatively explore the relationship between the sex gap and gendered share of crime and the role played by economic development. The findings imply that the Policy tends to increase female share of crime especially after 2000; moreover, its effect on female share of crime is intensified over time along with more and more single children growing up as well as further and further change happening within social structure. By influencing the sex ratio at birth, the One-child Policy unexpectedly contributes to gender role convergence in China as one of its side-effects, which in turn enhances the female share of crime because there tends to be more similarity between female and male behaviors within the one-child generations in China. Although the direction of economic effect on female share of crime is not consistent, it is effective in reducing the Policy effect by providing more legal ways for females who are similar in behavior and ambition as their male counterparts.

Authors

• Ting Wang Lowan, University of Kentucky

• Janet P. Stamatel, University of Kentucky