Chinese boys 119, Chinese girls 100. No this isn’t a basketball score, but the imbalance of the sexes of babies being born in China. In rural areas this number raises to 140 boys to 100 girls. In western countries, a normal ratio should be around 107 boys to 100 girls. In China this is becoming a serious social problem, which I touched upon last week in my story Feng Shui Baby Girls.
I was also interviewed by CNN’s Emily Chan who covered this issue. Her story was about China’s one child policy and how selective abortions have lead to a surge in bachelors. Her story ‘Chinese men find it tough to find mate’ includes my quote:
“Over the years that imbalance has been caused by parents wanting sons and historically and culturally a son is more valuable to have in a family because they can earn more money and can look after the parents when they get old.”
An interesting story, which highlights China’s ‘marriage parks’, which are becoming more popular in the big cities. Especially among anxious parents, wanting to find suitable marriage partners for their single children. Carrying photos, examination certificates and curriculum vitaes of their child to show and swap with other parents in a similar situation.
The average age for marriage in China is 27 for women and 28 for men. A trend which is steadily rising, so parents are worried that their children will stay unmarried. However, more importantly what they really want is grandchild. Which hopefully will be a boy, so just perpetuating this problem further.
