nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com

The government is again trying to insert itself into women’s childbearing decisions, knocking on doors and making calls with questions some find downright invasive.

The first time a government worker encouraged Yumi Yang to have a baby, she thought little of it. She and her husband were registering their marriage at a local office in northeastern China, and the worker gave them free prenatal vitamins, which she chalked up to the government trying to be helpful.

When an official later called to ask if she had taken them, and then called again after she did get pregnant to track her progress, Ms. Yang shrugged those questions off as well intentioned, too. But then officials showed up at her door after she had given birth, asking to take a photograph of her with her baby for their files. That was too much.

“When they came to my home, that was really ridiculous,” said Ms. Yang, 28. “I felt a little disgusted.”

Faced with a declining population that threatens economic growth, the Chinese government is responding with a time-tested tactic: inserting itself into this most intimate of choices for women, whether or not to have a child.

Officials are not just going door to door to ask women about their plans. They have partnered with universities to develop courses on having a “positive view of marriage and childbearing.” At high-profile political gatherings, officials are spreading the message wherever they can.

Non-paywall link

  • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldEnglish
    43·
    2 months ago

    I love that all of the countries of the world tend to experience ups and downs with birth rate. However, only China, does away with the complexities of economic incentives, fiddly laws, educational programs, and delicate immigration policies. Rather, the government approach is simply, “stop having children!” “Now have more children!” “Go!”

    • LadyAutumnEnglish
      9·
      2 months ago

      Yeah there is no logic behind it whatsoever. China is egregiously bad in this regard, but not alone, that’s for sure. Conservatives the world over constantly fear monger about birth rates without ever actually trying to address the underlying social financial and cultural problems that prevent people from having children. The solution is always “yell at women to have more babies”, not “better regulate the housing market so people wanting to start a family can actually access homes with space for children”.

    • cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.mlEnglish
      4·
      2 months ago

      Why are you assuming they aren’t trying to make having children more appealing by expanding access to family planning services, healthcare, and childcare? The article literally says they’re also doing those things.

      • Dutczar@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        The only thing mentioned are the promotional campaigns and once, vaguely, “child-care resources”. And the ratio is far more in the former’s favour, which is useless. Same for women being pro- and against the government’s actions, with there being more focus on the complaints. And they actually get quoted, so they’re more trustworthy. I actually applaud them, since the supporters might just be doing it out of fear. No statistic to back up either though, but just about anyone will assume the Chinese government is fucking up privacy rights, as usual. There ARE quotes for that in here.

        • cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.mlEnglish
          1·
          2 months ago

          And the ratio is far more in the former’s favour, which is useless. Same for women being pro- and against the government’s actions, with there being more focus on the complaints.

          This is an article not a poll. The author of the article can choose to focus on women who are unhappy with the government programs even if they’re in the minority. The author can also highlight aspects of the Chinese system that are more invasive than others. Assuming everything in the article is factually correct, you still cannot make assumptions about how Chinese women feel more generally.

          You also cannot proclaim that the government did not pursue means of promoting having children that did not infringe on women’s privacy, as the comment I was replying to did.

          I actually applaud them, since the supporters might just be doing it out of fear.

          This is just speculation and it contradicts other assumptions you’ve made based on this article. You seem to think the women quoted in the article are representative of China as a whole except of course when it comes to their willingness to criticize their government. This kind of logic is unreasonable and will easily lead you to believe all sorts of nonsense. It’s not all that different from how republicans get swept up into thinking Haitian immigrants were eating people’s pets.

      • YeetPics@mander.xyzEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        Why are you commenting? Can’t handle a dissenting opinions on something you feel like you’ve mastered?

  • Annoyed_🦀 @monyet.ccEnglish
    31·
    2 months ago

    But then officials showed up at her door after she had given birth, asking to take a photograph of her with her baby for their files. That was too much.

    OUR children.

    • WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.worldEnglish
      23·
      2 months ago

      It’s just one little lifelong commitment and millions of dollars… What’s the problem? Sure, the planets ecosystems are collapsing and the future may be horrific, but I want to experience grandkids, and you only exist for my desires and my needs!

    • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      6·
      2 months ago

      If mine did that I would present them my vas deferens in a manila envelope with two little grease stains showing through the paper and sharpied in my off hand “The future you built when you voted for Reagan.”

    • tiredofsametab@fedia.io
      2·
      2 months ago

      Mine have all given up. I’ve always entertained the idea of adopting later (I had a vasectomy at 35 with no children prior for a number of reasons), but it’s looking less and less realistic as I creep closer to 50.

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        Last time my parents asked about it, I suggested I could go knock up a prostitute.

        They haven’t asked since.

        (I’ve been snipped since my late twenties… they don’t know that though. The break on insurance was great and I have. Intention of having kids anyway.)

    • YeetPics@mander.xyzEnglish
      4·
      2 months ago

      If you were a Chinese girl you likely would have been murdered due to China’s one child policy back in the day 🤷

      Apparently sons are worth more social credit or something idk.

  • wiLD0@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    2 months ago

    I feel like a lot of that is the medical system’s job. I did get footprinted as a baby born in Massachusetts.

    • cecinestpasunbot@lemmy.mlEnglish
      4·
      2 months ago

      Yeah I mean the actually article also states

      Some women told The Times they appreciated the outreach because they felt cared for. Women have also lauded other parts of the pro-fertility campaign, which include expanding child-care resources and encouraging men to help out at home.

      All in all it sounds like there are efforts to make having children seem more attractive to young couples and some local officials are being overzealous about it. This is also happening in a context where abortion is legal, easy to access, and highly prevalent.