It's a Man's World

China’s one-child policy was originally created to help minimize China’s already dense population. Created in 1979, it limited each family to only raising one son or daughter. Although successful in limiting the population, this policy has triggered an increase in the child sex trafficking industry. With government officials turning a blind eye, and the policy holding strong today, many female children are left without answers and looking for help.

China's long withstanding traditions and cultures have always placed more emphasis on the importance of men. Men are viewed as a key factor in helping care for their elders, and also can carry on the family name. Due to this gender discrimination, many families are choosing to raise males rather than females. Chai ling, founder of the group “All Girls Allowed" explains how this policy affects the families’ gender selection in children by saying “some families are taking this matter into their own hands by selectively aborting, abandoning, and selling their baby girls” And the sex trafficking industry is more than willing to pick up these children.

With families only being allowed one child, and most of them choosing to raise a son, many girl children are being sold as child brides. Although there is still a debate on whether forced child marriages are a form of slavery, one must consider what is asked of a child partaking in a forced marriage. In many cases, child brides are treated like indentured servants, working many hours without pay, raped, and left with no way of escape. These girls are also taken from their schools and families and denied any forms of education beyond their elementary schooling. The gender discrimination alongside the policy, limits women’s roles in society, and leaves them with little chance to prosper.

The One-child policy has also contributed to the sex trafficking industry by launching China’s population into an imbalanced gap between genders. With many families choosing to have one male as their child, the amount of girls there are to be wives is scarce. Ling says “There are approaching 40 million young men inside China who will not find a bride. So as a result of that, sex trafficking against girls and women are becoming a huge problem inside China." Although there are groups to help fight this growing trend, many people are still left ignorant to the effects of this policy on women and children. There is no quick fix to stop this problem, and no magical law that can reverse the damage that is done.But we are taking the first step in researching the industry and gaining information. The more we learn about the causes of the growing sex trafficking industry, the closer we get to abolishing it.

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photo credit: http://www.accschinese.com/accsblog/?tag=chinese-children