20 million "disappeared" baby girls due to China's one-child policy led to women's skepticism towards Beijing's current pro-birth initiatives.

China's one-child policy (1980-2015) left a significant impact on many women who were born during this time, leading to an estimated 20 million "disappeared" baby girls due to sex-selective abortions or infanticide. The heavy consequences for having an unauthorized second child under the policy have caused some women to view Beijing's current pro-birth agenda with skepticism. As China shifts from a one-child to a three-child policy, women who faced harsh penalties under the previous policy remain resistant to government pro-birth initiatives. Experts cite low fertility desire, high child-raising costs, and a climbing infertility rate as the primary obstacles to reversing China's shrinking population. Despite Beijing's attempts to foster a pro-birth culture through slogans and policy incentives, many women remain unconvinced that having children is purely a personal choice and not dictated by policy.

August 19, 2024
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