The Relationship between China's One-Child Policy and Female Empowerment: A Systematic Literature Review

Wendi Wang, Student
Qing Guan, Australian National University
Natalie Nitsche, Australian National University

China’s One-Child Policy has profound impacts on the population, societal, economic, family, and individual domains. This study employs a systematic literature review to examine the relationship between the One-Child Policy and female empowerment. 32 pieces of literature are analyzed following a systematic search and selection process. Results largely confirm a positive association between the One-Child Policy and female empowerment. Evidence demonstrates that the One-Child Policy's strengthening effect on female empowerment is due to the concentration of resources and support caused by a decline in the number of children in the household. The concentration of resources and support has further empowered females with greater access to family investments and parental support, career and educational advancement, advanced gender role attitudes, closer connection with natal family and better intergenerational relationships, and enhanced decision-making authority within marital families. While the majority of research supports the hypothesis, some studies nonetheless arrive at different conclusions. We also find factors including the availability of local educational and economic resources, changes in traditional patriarchal norms, and parents' parenting concepts and education levels interplaying with the Policy to impact female empowerment outcomes. This study offers insights into the complex relationship between the One-Child Policy and female empowerment in China.

Keywords: Family Planning and Contraception, Gender Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Population Policies

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