Adolescent Boys and Gendered Social transitions in Ethiopia (7 September, 2015)Young Lives Oxford
"Adolescent boys and gendered social transitions: Findings From the Young Lives Study in Ethiopia" by Gina Crivello and Nikki van der Gaag.
Presented at the Annual Development Studies Association Conference, Bath, UK
7-8 September 2015
What affects boys’ trajectories through school and work, including their aspirations, agency, place, and changing roles and responsibilities within family and community contexts? What obstacles do adolescent boys face as they seek to transition into young adults?
These questions were addressed in a presentation by Gina Crivello and Nikki van der Gaag at the UK Development Studies Association conference on 7 Sept 2015.
In recent years, adolescence has risen high on the global agenda, but boys are marginalised by an overwhelming focus on female adolescence. While there has been much focus on the harms that social norms and expectations can cause for girls’ well-being, what it means to be a boy in any given time and place is also socially constructed and dynamic. This paper shows how boys too can be disadvantaged by sexual stereotypes, social norms and economic adversity, and how gender norms become more entrenched as adolescents develop into young adults. In particular, we see how boys’ aspirations decrease over time while girls’ aspirations increase, particularly after age 15.
Securing paid work is key to boys’ transitions to adulthood, and at age 19, they strive for financial independence. They consider paid work to be a ‘protective factor’ in the sense that working prevents idleness and stagnation which they fear and resist. They also see themselves as ‘in-between’ childhood and adulthood – with a growing sense of responsibility and maturity, yet lacking adult authority and access to adult networks. Focusing much less on the promises of education for boys becoming men, work promises ‘change’ and represents persistence, hope and moral fortitude. But the reality of work is usually very different; a continual struggle to provide enough for themselves, their families, and their futures.
Grade - 7. Social Science .Women change the world Navya Rai
Grade - 7. Social Science .Women change the world
There are many stereotypes that exist in society such as girls and women are not capable of dealing with technical things.
Due to these stereotypes, many girls do not get the same support that boys get.
This is a report on the social, economic and educational situation of slum children in Delhi that is based on interviews and discussions with children and parents in the selected slums of Delhi. The report gives a clear picture of the aspirations and dreams of the children in Delhi and without being judgemental makes a strong call for support to the children who are deprived of rights to shelter, housing, education, protection and development.
Adolescent Boys and Gendered Social transitions in Ethiopia (7 September, 2015)Young Lives Oxford
"Adolescent boys and gendered social transitions: Findings From the Young Lives Study in Ethiopia" by Gina Crivello and Nikki van der Gaag.
Presented at the Annual Development Studies Association Conference, Bath, UK
7-8 September 2015
What affects boys’ trajectories through school and work, including their aspirations, agency, place, and changing roles and responsibilities within family and community contexts? What obstacles do adolescent boys face as they seek to transition into young adults?
These questions were addressed in a presentation by Gina Crivello and Nikki van der Gaag at the UK Development Studies Association conference on 7 Sept 2015.
In recent years, adolescence has risen high on the global agenda, but boys are marginalised by an overwhelming focus on female adolescence. While there has been much focus on the harms that social norms and expectations can cause for girls’ well-being, what it means to be a boy in any given time and place is also socially constructed and dynamic. This paper shows how boys too can be disadvantaged by sexual stereotypes, social norms and economic adversity, and how gender norms become more entrenched as adolescents develop into young adults. In particular, we see how boys’ aspirations decrease over time while girls’ aspirations increase, particularly after age 15.
Securing paid work is key to boys’ transitions to adulthood, and at age 19, they strive for financial independence. They consider paid work to be a ‘protective factor’ in the sense that working prevents idleness and stagnation which they fear and resist. They also see themselves as ‘in-between’ childhood and adulthood – with a growing sense of responsibility and maturity, yet lacking adult authority and access to adult networks. Focusing much less on the promises of education for boys becoming men, work promises ‘change’ and represents persistence, hope and moral fortitude. But the reality of work is usually very different; a continual struggle to provide enough for themselves, their families, and their futures.
Grade - 7. Social Science .Women change the world Navya Rai
Grade - 7. Social Science .Women change the world
There are many stereotypes that exist in society such as girls and women are not capable of dealing with technical things.
Due to these stereotypes, many girls do not get the same support that boys get.
This is a report on the social, economic and educational situation of slum children in Delhi that is based on interviews and discussions with children and parents in the selected slums of Delhi. The report gives a clear picture of the aspirations and dreams of the children in Delhi and without being judgemental makes a strong call for support to the children who are deprived of rights to shelter, housing, education, protection and development.
Children play a crucial role in solving the most persistent development problems we face in the world today. Explore, discover and support the empowerment of children - to build a future we want..
"Ayurjeevanam Sewa Samiti" is working ceaselessly with Government of India and its other partners to save protect and improve the lives of children in India.
You can help people escape from the bonds of poverty through our sponsor programme. Your valuable contribution guarantees that a sponsor person receives benefits alters his/her course of life.
Hereby ‘Our Society’ Ayurjeevanam raises the standard of average health in India. If you feel for any of these, then take time out to participate in their events. A few hours in your busy life can change the life of another human being.
Our goal is to create unforgettable experiences for children and their families through our wish granting process. But we can’t do it alone. Every single donation helps to ensure that every child’s one true wish comes true.
By donating to Needy person, you help transform lives. You give children with life-threatening medical conditions a reason to hope for a brighter future. And most of all, you help make their magical wishes come true.
Ayurjeevanam Sewa Samiti (Rampur) Society managed by Dr. Kuldeep Singh Chauhan & their Volunteers, which is part of the corporate social responsibility activities Government, Project Nanhi Kali supports over 57,000 students.
Project Nanhi Kali sees educating girls and women as a way to positively impact India in the long run. Dr. Kuldeep Singh Chauhan & Smt. Shabana, the Secretary of the non-profit organisation, told the Daily News and Analysis in an interview that "we wanted to create global awareness about the plight of young girls in the country who are denied their basic right."
Students who are selected for Nanhi Kali receive both financial and academic support. They attend special classes to learn math, science, and language concepts. Nanhi Kali pays for the hidden costs of their education, including pencils, notebooks, uniforms, school bags, clothes, and shoes. Funding is from individual and corporate donors, who sponsor a particular child and receive regular updates on her progress at school. Sponsors can also go to the online "Girl Store" to purchase particular items for a student. Ayurjeevanam Sewa Samiti sponsors the education of 11,000 girl children through Project Nanhi Kali.
Third-party assessments show that Nanhi Kali has a significant impact on the girls' lives. Over a one year period, Nanhi Kali students' improvement in learning outcomes ranged from 40 percent in Rampur, Moradabad, Kanpur to 78 percent in Ghaziabad
Today we recognize that to try and improve the position of women one needs to look at the girl child who is a woman of tomorrow. Only when we visualize a female child with high self esteem not merely in recipient roles but in active productive roles with a concern for human dignity will be have strong and empowered women. The ultimate goal is to have an active, healthy and confident female child unfettered by 2009 2009 Social Institutions and Gender Index with equal access to knowledge information and opportunities.
A girl’s discrimination begins even before birth. Our statistics clearly point out to some facts that abortion of female fetuses is on the rise,It is reported that about 4,000 female babies are aborted in Tamil Nadu (southern India) every year. Sex determination tests are widely resorted to even in the remotest rural areas. Since most deliveries in rural areas take place at home, there is no record of the exact number of births/deaths that take place. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the magnitude of the problem. The ratio of female to male is declining. Even though the national sex ratio in the 2011 Census 944 is more than 2001’s 934, in states like Punjab, Haryana the sex ratio is about 899 and 885 respectively. There is reluctance to seek medical aid for ailing daughters. Regardless of the economic background the status of the female child has never been the same as that of the male at any level.
Gender roles are conceived, taught and enacted in a complex set of relationships within the family and society at large. Needless to say, the media reinforces the same stereotyped gender roles. The girl child grows up with a low self esteem. She grows up with a notion of temporary membership in her natal home to be disposed off with assets and dowry. A traditional saying sums it up thus, a daughter is like ghee (clarified butter)—both will stay good only upto a point. If you do not dispose them off they start stinking. Her productive role is to continue the household drudgery added to which is her reproductive responsibility.
The situation analysis of girl child is mentioned in this ppt.
Comparisons of Case Studies of Child Work in Young Lives Sites in EthiopiaYoung Lives Oxford
Presentation from international meeting on children's work and child labour hosted by the Africa Child Policy Forum, Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa, and Young Lives in Addis Ababa, 20-21 March 2014
Girls transitions to adulthood education work and marriageYoung Lives Oxford
Presentation by Young Lives Country Director, Alula Pankhurst at the Girl Learning Symposium held on 1 April 2015 at Addis Ababa University, School of Fine Arts and Design. Hosted by CARE, DFID, FHI 360, Girl Hub Ethiopia, International Rescue Committee, Pathfinder, Plan
International, Population Council, Save the Children, USAID and Young Lives.
A community of national and international organizations and Government bodies will come together to share learnings and experiences from implementing girl-centered research, policy and programming in Ethiopia. The event will be a unique opportunity for networking and sharing ideas.
The Impact of Girl-Child Education on Community Development: A Study of Ika L...iosrjce
This research work investigated the impact of Girl-Child Education on Community Development with
focus on Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The specific objectives of the study are to identify the
role of Girl-Child Education in Community Development, to determine the factors impeding against girl-child
education in the aforementioned area and to examine how social, economic and political development affects
Girl-Child Education in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The total population for this study is
39,500 and the sample size of three hundred and ninety five (395) persons from the selected communities i.e.
Ikot Inyang Udo, Ikot Akata, Urua Inyang, Ikot Oyo and Ikot Okon were drawn. The study adopted a descriptive
survey design and data were analysed using the chi-square (X2
) statistic at 0.05 level of significance. It was
found among other things that Girl-Child Education helps in Community Development and the factors militating
against girl-child education were culture and poverty level of the people. Based on the findings, the following
recommendations were made; the society should stop the discrimination of the girl-child in the provision of
education, also that government should make policy statements that will make the education of the girl child
legal and compulsory.
Children play a crucial role in solving the most persistent development problems we face in the world today. Explore, discover and support the empowerment of children - to build a future we want..
"Ayurjeevanam Sewa Samiti" is working ceaselessly with Government of India and its other partners to save protect and improve the lives of children in India.
You can help people escape from the bonds of poverty through our sponsor programme. Your valuable contribution guarantees that a sponsor person receives benefits alters his/her course of life.
Hereby ‘Our Society’ Ayurjeevanam raises the standard of average health in India. If you feel for any of these, then take time out to participate in their events. A few hours in your busy life can change the life of another human being.
Our goal is to create unforgettable experiences for children and their families through our wish granting process. But we can’t do it alone. Every single donation helps to ensure that every child’s one true wish comes true.
By donating to Needy person, you help transform lives. You give children with life-threatening medical conditions a reason to hope for a brighter future. And most of all, you help make their magical wishes come true.
Ayurjeevanam Sewa Samiti (Rampur) Society managed by Dr. Kuldeep Singh Chauhan & their Volunteers, which is part of the corporate social responsibility activities Government, Project Nanhi Kali supports over 57,000 students.
Project Nanhi Kali sees educating girls and women as a way to positively impact India in the long run. Dr. Kuldeep Singh Chauhan & Smt. Shabana, the Secretary of the non-profit organisation, told the Daily News and Analysis in an interview that "we wanted to create global awareness about the plight of young girls in the country who are denied their basic right."
Students who are selected for Nanhi Kali receive both financial and academic support. They attend special classes to learn math, science, and language concepts. Nanhi Kali pays for the hidden costs of their education, including pencils, notebooks, uniforms, school bags, clothes, and shoes. Funding is from individual and corporate donors, who sponsor a particular child and receive regular updates on her progress at school. Sponsors can also go to the online "Girl Store" to purchase particular items for a student. Ayurjeevanam Sewa Samiti sponsors the education of 11,000 girl children through Project Nanhi Kali.
Third-party assessments show that Nanhi Kali has a significant impact on the girls' lives. Over a one year period, Nanhi Kali students' improvement in learning outcomes ranged from 40 percent in Rampur, Moradabad, Kanpur to 78 percent in Ghaziabad
Today we recognize that to try and improve the position of women one needs to look at the girl child who is a woman of tomorrow. Only when we visualize a female child with high self esteem not merely in recipient roles but in active productive roles with a concern for human dignity will be have strong and empowered women. The ultimate goal is to have an active, healthy and confident female child unfettered by 2009 2009 Social Institutions and Gender Index with equal access to knowledge information and opportunities.
A girl’s discrimination begins even before birth. Our statistics clearly point out to some facts that abortion of female fetuses is on the rise,It is reported that about 4,000 female babies are aborted in Tamil Nadu (southern India) every year. Sex determination tests are widely resorted to even in the remotest rural areas. Since most deliveries in rural areas take place at home, there is no record of the exact number of births/deaths that take place. Therefore, it is difficult to assess the magnitude of the problem. The ratio of female to male is declining. Even though the national sex ratio in the 2011 Census 944 is more than 2001’s 934, in states like Punjab, Haryana the sex ratio is about 899 and 885 respectively. There is reluctance to seek medical aid for ailing daughters. Regardless of the economic background the status of the female child has never been the same as that of the male at any level.
Gender roles are conceived, taught and enacted in a complex set of relationships within the family and society at large. Needless to say, the media reinforces the same stereotyped gender roles. The girl child grows up with a low self esteem. She grows up with a notion of temporary membership in her natal home to be disposed off with assets and dowry. A traditional saying sums it up thus, a daughter is like ghee (clarified butter)—both will stay good only upto a point. If you do not dispose them off they start stinking. Her productive role is to continue the household drudgery added to which is her reproductive responsibility.
The situation analysis of girl child is mentioned in this ppt.
Comparisons of Case Studies of Child Work in Young Lives Sites in EthiopiaYoung Lives Oxford
Presentation from international meeting on children's work and child labour hosted by the Africa Child Policy Forum, Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa, and Young Lives in Addis Ababa, 20-21 March 2014
Girls transitions to adulthood education work and marriageYoung Lives Oxford
Presentation by Young Lives Country Director, Alula Pankhurst at the Girl Learning Symposium held on 1 April 2015 at Addis Ababa University, School of Fine Arts and Design. Hosted by CARE, DFID, FHI 360, Girl Hub Ethiopia, International Rescue Committee, Pathfinder, Plan
International, Population Council, Save the Children, USAID and Young Lives.
A community of national and international organizations and Government bodies will come together to share learnings and experiences from implementing girl-centered research, policy and programming in Ethiopia. The event will be a unique opportunity for networking and sharing ideas.
The Impact of Girl-Child Education on Community Development: A Study of Ika L...iosrjce
This research work investigated the impact of Girl-Child Education on Community Development with
focus on Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The specific objectives of the study are to identify the
role of Girl-Child Education in Community Development, to determine the factors impeding against girl-child
education in the aforementioned area and to examine how social, economic and political development affects
Girl-Child Education in Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The total population for this study is
39,500 and the sample size of three hundred and ninety five (395) persons from the selected communities i.e.
Ikot Inyang Udo, Ikot Akata, Urua Inyang, Ikot Oyo and Ikot Okon were drawn. The study adopted a descriptive
survey design and data were analysed using the chi-square (X2
) statistic at 0.05 level of significance. It was
found among other things that Girl-Child Education helps in Community Development and the factors militating
against girl-child education were culture and poverty level of the people. Based on the findings, the following
recommendations were made; the society should stop the discrimination of the girl-child in the provision of
education, also that government should make policy statements that will make the education of the girl child
legal and compulsory.
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Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty, In...Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty,
International FDP on Fundamentals of Research in Social Sciences
at Integral University, Lucknow, 06.06.2024
By Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Acetabularia Information For Class 9 .docxvaibhavrinwa19
Acetabularia acetabulum is a single-celled green alga that in its vegetative state is morphologically differentiated into a basal rhizoid and an axially elongated stalk, which bears whorls of branching hairs. The single diploid nucleus resides in the rhizoid.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
Model Attribute Check Company Auto PropertyCeline George
In Odoo, the multi-company feature allows you to manage multiple companies within a single Odoo database instance. Each company can have its own configurations while still sharing common resources such as products, customers, and suppliers.
Thesis Statement for students diagnonsed withADHD.ppt
One child policy and loss of only child
1. 1
One-Child Policy and the Loss of the Only Child
In the 1980s, China began to exercise the One-Child Policy, in attempt to alleviate the
conflict between the economic development and population growth. Couples are only allowed to
have one child regardless of their profession, wealth and status. The policy has caused Chinese
families to restructure. This restructuring process is a symbol of China's modernization. However
in the meantime, it also generates issues that I find to be melodramatic. Ben Singer argues that
melodrama is "a product of modernity" (131) and it reflects the sense of insecurity generated in
the modern world. The One-Child Policy originated exactly out of the eager expectation for a
well-structured economic and social system in China.
According to Linda Williams, melodrama consists of weaved of pathos and actions(30).
With the rapid pace of modernization, the Chinese families are also forced to suffer the
consequences. Elsaesser notes that melodramas like Birth of a Nation "tailor[s] ideological
conflicts into emotionally charged family situations." (354) This is exactly what happens to
Chinese families as well. The villainous aspects of the one-child policy are most evident in these
smallest units of society.
By conducting observational experiments among kindergartens mainly consisting of only
children in China, C.C. Ching concludes that the kids are raised up to be the center of the family
and are selfish in the sense of using inappropriate means to satisfy their own wishes. Hemminki,
Wu, Cao and Viisainen collected statistics showing that the number of abortions increased
drastically since the one-child policy first came out. According to them, forced abortions, which
are inhumane disregards of human right, are prevalent for an "illegal" pregnancy, that is,
pregnancy after the mother has already given birth to a child. Settles, Sheng, Zang and Zhao
2. compared the growth rate of the number of elderly people for France, Sweden, Great Britain and
China, and it appears that China has the fastest growth rate. In other words, China has become an
2
aging society.
One other serious problem arising from the one-child policy considers the people who
have lost their only child. The scene in Birth of a Nation in which the families lose their sons in
war reminds me of this issue. In modern China, lots of parents lose their only children who has
demised by accident or under high working pressure, which means that they are losing their only
offspring and "hope". These people will have to face their old age alone and will probably lack
financial support. They are a special group of people who arouses great sympathy from the
public. They even have an assigned name in Chinese: "失独者(Shiduzhe)“ - people who have
lost their only child.
There has been a great amount of media report on the miserable lives of the Shiduzhe.
China Daily established an online project called “Life after Loss: when families lose their only
child.” By saying that the employers would threaten to fire the employees if they have a second
child and therefore most of them obeyed the government’s order and take on a risk of becoming
childless in the future, the project explained to the audience how powerful the One-Child Policy
is. The project also displayed the miserable feelings of parents who lost their only child. “We can
never escape this state of mind. Families that haven’t experienced this can never feel our pain.
We try to put on fake smiles and pretend to be happy when meeting others, but that is not how
we really feel”, says Zhenlong Zhou, a now childless father.
This project also mentions that the families who have lost their only child contribute a lot
to the function of the one-child policy. According to how this project focuses on the sufferings of
the family, it seems that it is blaming the policy for making the families fall apart. The project
3. 3
makes use of a melodramatic approach to emphasize the villainy side of the One-Child Policy,
and it succeeds in making the audience believe that the Shiduzhe is pitiful because of the policy.
However, as I think deeper about this problem, I came to question whether the policy is the true
villain here. In this essay, I attempt to examine what truly makes the Shiduzhe appear so helpless
in the society and what should be done to reduce the loss of only child tragedies.
From the ancient times, the Chinese families have been very concerned about the
cultivation of their children. Cultivation, as explained in “Shuo Wen Jie Zi,” an ancient Chinese
book explaining the meaning of words, means that the parents should give their children proper
education for them to do good. There is a famous story about the childhood of the great ancient
philosopher Mencius, “Meng Mu San Qian,” which is spread from generation to generation. It is
said that when Mencius was little, he lived pretty close to a cemetery and used to play around the
tombs, learning a lot about funerals and worship of spirits. His mother thought that this is not a
good place for Mencius to live and therefore moved to where the market was located. Mencius
then became interested in doing businesses. His mother found it also not a suitable place for her
son’s education and moved again. This time they moved a place very close to the school.
Mencius therefore learned a lot about the manners on the imperial court. His mother was very
pleased and finally settled down. In this story, Mencius’ mother moved twice solely for the cause
of her son – she wanted to find a best environment for Mencius to grow up in. It is pretty
apparent how important the education and cultivation of children is in the ancient family. The
child is the center of the family and every other thing, including the location of their home,
revolves around the wellbeing of the child.
The ancient child-cultivation view has passed from generation to generation and
nowadays children are still placed at the center of the family. Especially, when it comes to
4. education, the parents would do anything in order for their children to achieve a good grade. For
4
example, when I was little, my parents used to do some family chores including washing dishes
and mopping the floor. However, if I said that I had a lot of homework to do, my mom would
always say, “Go to do your homework; leave the chores for me.” This is very common among
the Chinese families. The children’s study placed at the most important position in family life.
This is because in China, education is the only way to change one’s life. Besides those who
become successful by chance, for most people, the college entrance exam, known as “Gao Kao,”
is a life-changing event. The child can ace in the Gao Kao, enter the best universities and become
successful and wealthy, but he or she can also fail the Gao Kao and spend the rest of his or her
life earning little wage. Some people, when failing the Gao Kao, would spend years retesting, for
the hope of possibly enter a good college and change their lives. Parents, especially those who
struggle for their lives, eagerly hope that their children could go to a good university and become
wealthy. Thus, they would devote all their effort to the cultivat ion of their children and sacrifice
anything for their children’s study.
In order to fully understand why education is so important in China requires us to look at
the economic and social situation. In 1960s and 1970s, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural
Revolution caused the economy in China to stagnate. During those years, there was great chaos
in the society. The Great Leap Forward movement aimed to immediately improve the economic
condition through rapid industrialization and collectivization. However, because of the lack of
knowledge of the production capacity, the movement led to huge economic regression. The
Cultural Revolution’s goal was to enforce communism and get rid of the bourgeois element in
the society. In the ten years of revolution, a great number of senior officials were tortured and
imprisoned for taking the “capitalist road”. The Revolution also caused an enormous setback to
5. 5
China’s economy. Because of these two events, the economy shrank a lot and could not support
the great population which occurred because of Chairman Mao Zedong’s call for families to give
birth to as many children as they can. All of a sudden, the number of people in poverty increased
tremendously. However, not all people have the chance to earn enough money for their living
because the employers cannot hire everyone in the giant population. The employers started to
only choose from those who attended high school. Then they started to eliminate those who did
not attend college. Education soon became the key criteria for whether the person can be
employed. Therefore, if a person wants to change his or her life, he or she needs to be well
educated.
Through the analysis, it is obvious that through suffering poverty, families in China put
great emphasis on the education of their children, hoping to change their lives if the children
could go to a good university and be employed by a good company. There is a saying “Yang Er
Fang Lao” in China, which means that by bringing up a child, the parent’s old age would be
supported. Parents take care of children partially for the reason of being supported by their
children when they are old. By dedicating great effort in the children’s cultivation, the parents
would easily develop dependence on the children. They would soon get used to the child-centered
life and lose sense of how they should live their own lives. When parents of different
families get together, what they usually talk about are what supplementary classes and
extracurricular activities should their children attend, how to cook nutritious meal for their
children, etc. They concentrate so much on their children that they no longer have their original
passion and interest for life. Thus, once they lose their child, especially if the child is their only
child, they would feel as if they have lost everything.
6. Another factor that leads to the tragic feeling of parents who lost their only children is the
6
lack of social welfare. Because of the huge population and the long-term not so wealthy
economic situation, China is not able to give enough support to every member of the society
needing help. Thus, once parents lose their only child, they are not only deprived of the financial
support that their children should be able to provide for them when they are old, but they are also
isolated in the society because the government has almost nothing to give to them. The immature
social welfare system renders them helpless.
The melodramatic approach that the media uses to reveal the tragedy of the Shiduzhe has
led the audience to condemn the “villainy” One-Child Policy. However, in my opinion, it is the
child-centered parenting idea and the immature social welfare that are the true villains.
Disregarding melodrama’s misleading effect, I believe that melodrama could be used to a
positive function. By displaying the miserable lives of the Shiduzhe, melodrama would succeed
in persuading the audience to pay more attention to the special group of people and take
appropriate actions. It is time for the Chinese parenting idea to make a change: the center of the
family should gradually shift from the child to the wellbeing of every family member. The social
welfare system should also be updated: the government should establish a special policy for the
families who have lost the only child because they have contributed a lot to the uphold of the
One-Child Policy, which has helped speed up the country’s economic growth.
7. 7
Bibliography
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