China Wants More Babies. Many Women Are Saying No.

This podcast episode explores China's changing family planning policies and the challenges it faces due to its rapidly aging society and declining birth rate. While the government is implementing various measures to encourage people to have more children, a younger generation of women in China is resisting this pressure, resulting in a demographic problem for the government. Takeaways • China's one-child policy had negative consequences for women, leading to forced abortions, fines, and IUD implants. • The Chinese government is offering cash incentives, extending maternity and paternity leave, and increasing propaganda to encourage people to have more children. • The shrinking workforce due to the declining birth rate has rippling effects throughout China's economy, causing concerns for the government. • Simona Dai's personal experiences growing up under the one-child policy and the challenges she faced in her marriage related to having children highlight the societal pressures and expectations surrounding marriage and motherhood in China. • Chinese women who are vocal about their experiences with relationships and family online face government scrutiny, as feminism is seen as a threat backed by foreign forces.