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China`s Sex Discrimination to Continue

The People`s Republic of China has a male-dominated gender imbalance, and that is not set to change. Even a growing economy will not prompt the government to change its stringent family planning policy, according state press reports. Zhang Weiqing, director of the National Population and Family Planning Commission says, "The major reason for China`s rising sex ratio is the entrenched concept of `boys are better than girls`."

Since the initiation of the family planning policy in 1972, China has successfully brought its rapid growing population under control from 1970-1995 and achieved a low birth level during 1995-2005, preventing over 400 million births, according to Chinese news agencies.

But many challenges remain, says Zhang, as China will see its total population, working-age population and aging population all reach their peaks in the middle of this century. While China`s economy is on the rise, and the population is far from small, the gender imbalance could affect the economic situation some time in the future, as well as negatively affect prospects for females seeking jobs.