As the decisions pertaining to the thirteenth five year plan have become more public and finalized, most of the reading I've done has focused on two areas: the environmental policy and the social reform. More specifically, in terms of social issues, I was looking for confirmation that the one child policy would be repealed, which I quickly received.

Late last year, when I first heard about the proposed change, I was overjoyed. It is well publicized the negative effect on China that the one child policy had, especially for women. Forced abortions, sterilization, and female infanticide are just some of the brutalities committed as a result of the policy. Beyond that, China felt the effects of a statistical changes in its population and the degradation of its family structure. I thought that this gesture would be appreciated as it was a movement for greater freedom, and quickly consulted my friend about the topic.

I found her less than overjoyed. She said, "Now that things are having problems, they expect us to fix them."

By us, she meant women. She was angry, because the party has decided to change the law, not because of the violation of human rights, but because of the decreased working class, and the aging population. This puts women in the position of being an instrument of breading rather than as people. This was the general view of several young women I talked to. While it is the collective view of a younger, collegiate demographic, I think it raises an interesting contrast between the priorities of government, and the priorities of that reside underneath it.
Yet, the effect on women wasn't all negative.

With one child in the family, women had more chances to be the focus of family resources. The average age for marriage has gone up, and more women are becoming "leftover" (A term used to describe women who are older than thirty, and unmarried). Having more children is a drain on resources and, as my friend said, it interferes with careers. Less people applied to have a second child than the expected, indicating that, for whatever reason, the desire to return to larger families no longer holds.

So where does that leave China, if the country's women and families don't take the opportunity to have more children? Probably in a similar place to Japan, having to deal with an aging population, and the economic consequences of a dwindling labor force. But perhaps better off, if female scientists, doctors, and businesswomen, like my friends, are now more prepared to be dedicated to their careers, and will raise their children to be the same.
Where does that leave China's women? Hopefully, in a better place. I still believe that despite my friend's criticisms about the rationale, any freedom granted is to be treasured. One of the qualities of freedom is that it allows for the opportunity to do something, yet does not require it, much like reading the news, voting, or standing during the pledge of allegiance. Women now have greater control over what happens to their body, surely something to be treasured.
I am interested to see the changes which come with the next five year plan. I am curious whether family structure will revert to as it once was, or develop into something new entirely.