China's strict one-child policy has left at least one million parents alone in old age since losing their only child, according to a report.
From 1980 to 2015, the Chinese government implemented a one-child policy restricting most couples to having only one child. This meant that families who had lost their only child---whether due to illness, suicide, or murder--- were now left grieving and alone in old age.
This is significant, especially in China, where children are often viewed as the main source of finances for their elderly parents.
It was estimated in 2010 that at least one million Chinese families had lost their only child, leaving the parents uncertain of their future, according to Sixth Tone's Shi Lihong.
"Families with an only child are walking on a tightrope. Every family can fall off the tightrope at any moment [if they lose their only child]," a bereaved mother said. "We are the unlucky ones."
What Is China's One-Child Policy?
China introduced the one-child policy in 1979 and fully implemented it in 1980. At the time, China hoped to curb the country's rapidly growing population by restricting most couples to having only one child.
The government provided financial and employment incentives to families who complied. They also imposed fines on those who violated the rules. At times, Chinese officials used forced abortions and mass sterilizations to force couples to have only one child.
There were a few exceptions to the policy. Rural families, for instance, were allowed to have a second child if their first was a girl. Ethnic minorities were also often exempt. Furthermore, wealthy Chinese families who could afford to pay the hefty fines were able to have more than one child.
This policy led many baby girls to be abandoned or placed in orphanages. There were also cases of sex-selective abortions and female infanticide. This is largely due to the traditional preference for male children.
The policy has also prevented up to 400 million births, according to some estimates, as reported by Investopedia. China has contested this figure, noting that only 36% of its citizens were impacted by the one-child policy.
