China and Women's Liberation: Re-Assessing the Relationship Through Population Policies

Abstract

After thirty years of reform, China’s economic and social spheres have been transformed beyond recognition. The new economy has created unprecedented employment opportunities for both urban and rural workers. The governmental structures which were put in place in the 1950s to foster social stability (such as the household registration system) have been adapted to better fit the new conditions.1 The government’s strategy of fostering urbanisation combined with the phenomenon of the ‘floating population’ of an estimated 200 million migrant workers has changed the composition of towns and cities and emptied villages of their working age populations.2 At the same time, the abandonment of the planned economy has resulted in a widespread lay‐off of workers from state owned enterprises. Regardless, the overall standard of living has improved for many but the demands of home ownership, consumerism, medical and education expenses have led to unparalleled financial stresses for the newly formed middle classes. Problems as diverse as divorce, prostitution, the trafficking of women and children, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, crime, land acquisition disputes, obesity, corruption, pollution, and environmental degradation have all increased.