In most countries, illegitimate children are allowed to live, work, and study; even in countries where unmarried women could be sentenced to death for having premarital sex. Fatherless children might struggle in society because of discrimination, but being illegitimate is not, itself, illegal or punishable by law. Often, prison time being an exception, a mother’s physical punishment can be delayed until birth of the child, but not in China. In China, unapproved pregnant mothers are required to have abortions, and, if they don’t, they and their children lose civil rights.
Child Bearing Age Registration
Once a woman in China reaches puberty, she is required to register with the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong (Family Planning or FP) which is the governmental branch that enforces child bearing laws. The Family Planning department’s reach is so invasive that it can force attractive women, or anyone they suspect of promiscuity, to take regular pregnancy tests at their clinics.
Although not as efficiently, or regularly, enforced on Hong Kong females, most women will receive several requests to test over a lifetime, and females who are single too long may be requested to visit clinics on a yearly basis. For women who live in rural areas, Family Planning will keep watch over all fertile females and may go so far as to make family house visits.
Abortions Required by Law
Abortions have been legal for decades because of China’s one child policy. According to Shuan Juan and Qian Yanfeng at China Daily, abortions cost approximately $100. For 2008, China’s department of statistics reported approximately 13 million abortions had been performed. In Chinese society, there is no longer shame in having abortions because nearly everyone has had one, or will have one in their lifetime. There is no respite from Family Planning and, if a woman cannot afford the abortion, the department provides options.
Illegal Children
An unmarried woman who gives birth is breaking the law, and she and her child will be treated as an illegal entity for life. The mother and child will not be entitled to a fair education or equal consideration for employment. Additionally, the Family Planning department will impose extravagant fines for living in particular neighborhoods or cities, or attending local schools that are generally free. The result is unwed mothers and underage children working labor jobs for pennies. Fines charged by Family Planning can be hundreds to thousands of dollars per year, and the imbalance of wages to Family Planning fines will leave single mothers and families impoverished.
In Meng Zhang’s article, “China: Illegitimate Girl Deprived of Right to Education,” child Xiao Qing would have to pay $1321 to go to a local school offering a generic education. The irony in the articles title is the declaration that the girl’s right had been violated, for, in China, illegitimate children do not have rights. In the story, Qing will not be allowed to study if the mother cannot pay, and there is no government fund or charitable subsidy to help despite that they went from department to department begging for help. As stated above, from birth, Qing has been sentenced to ignorance, poverty, and a lifetime of struggle because most families cannot afford Family Planning fines; most of China is still a struggling economy.
Health Care
Quality healthcare for illegitimate children and their mothers can range from poor to non-existent. When illegitimate children get young diseases, such as chicken pox, they are very lucky to survive because, chances are, they have not had vaccinations. If a mother were to fall seriously ill and die, she would likely leave her child homeless because taking in fatherless children carries the same stigma as being an unwed mother. Unfortunately, it is for this reason families are unwilling to take in illegitimate children, even of their own blood, which leads to another problem in the east: child prostitution.
Child Prostitution and Crime
As history has shown repeatedly, those who are least privileged are easiest prey and excellent predators. Out of opportunities, and nowhere else to turn, children will become lifelong prostitutes and criminals who will spend a lot of time in and out of jail. Since prostitutes and criminals have a lower rate of marriage, many will go on to give birth to more illegitimate children who will perpetuate, and exacerbate, China’s fight against prostitution and, particularly, child prostitution. Although it is plain that Family Planning laws have given children no alternatives, they continue to persecute them so as to discourage others from having children before marriage.
Additional Comments
Despite the number of abortions, there continues to be illegitimate births in China every year. There are no real statistics because studies are largely unattainable, yet there have been sources that estimate tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of illegitimate births every year in the country. The estimate is largely based on child prostitutes, of which, consists mainly of parentless children. Parentless children who have no other options, and are denied the basics of life, have few alternatives outside of crime. For now it is 100 percent guaranteed that none of these children will have a chance at a normal life. Consequently, many illegitimate children will give birth to illegitimate children. Until China gives these children a chance, then they will never see the end of child prostitution.
Sources
- Pop.org, "China’s Persecution of Women and Children: More of the Same," April 1st, 2011.
- Johnstonsarchive.net, "Historical Abortion Statistics, PR China," April 1st, 2011.
- Chinadaily.com, " Abortion statistics cause for concern," April 1st, 2011.
- Golbalvoicesonline.org, "China: Illegitimate Girl Deprived of the Right to an Education," April 1st, 2011.
- Humantrafficking.org, "China: National Plan of Action," April 1st, 2011.
- Famplan.org, "Hong Kong Family Planning Association," April 1st, 2011.
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