Chinese Bride Shortage

The babies first born 25 years ago under China's government enforced one-child policy are now of marrying age.  This could pose a problem as there are many more boys than there are girls.  Some say that as many as 40  million young Chinese men might be unable to find a wife and will spend their lives as bachelors. The government has tried to prevent Chinese mothers who want boys from aborting females with drastic measures such as outlawing all ultrasounds except when the health of the mother or baby necessitate one, (in which case, doctor's are forbidden from giving the information about the sex of the baby to anyone).  But many parents-to-be are avoiding these restrictions by going underground where an ultrasound can be had for about $360.00.  Also, some young girls who are born in China are being kidnapped or sold and forced into marriage. 

Lesley Stahl recently visited China for a segment for 60 Minutes which aired on Sunday about China's entrenched son-preference and how it could affect the nation's stability.  Stahl spoke with BYU's Valerie Hudson about her research on China's gender imbalance and the the problems that too many men could cause. 

"When there are more men than women, social instability and crime increases in society," Hudson explained. "Psychologists have talked about what they call the pacifying effect of marriage. Young men who have been pretty extreme criminals — upon marriage — and when the children begin to come, their criminal careers more or less end."

Asked if she is predicting a crime wave, Hudson said, "Yes. It’s already happening."

If you are looking for more information, the 60 Minutes website contains a transcript and a video of Stahl's segment.  For more of Hudson's thoughts on Asia's male surplus, check out Bare Branches:The Security Implications of Asia's Surplus Male Population, which Hudson wrote with Andrea M. Den Boer. 

Comments

[China Law Blog]

Fascinating post. I'm guessing that two groups of men in China are ending up without wives: those who stay back in the villages and those in the lowliest jobs in the city. Both groups could be destabilizing.