Where are the missing Chinese girls?
Keysers, L.
Newsletter 1991(36): 15
1991
PMID: 12284524 Document Number: 316294
Commentary focuses on the 1990 China Census data on births by sex and the sex ratio differences which suggest that 5% of all infant girls are unaccounted for. A combination of factors may account for this pattern: infanticide, adoption, or hidden births. Parents traditionally prefer sons and the 1 child policy acts as a disincentive to raise a girl child. The May 1990 census results indicate that for every 100 girls 1 year old there were 111.3 boys. This follows the pattern in 1989 of 112.5 boys and in 1987 of 110.5 boys. However in 1964 the sex ratio for newborn infants was 103.8 to 100, and in 1953 104.9 to 100. The figures surged after the institution of the 1 child policy in 1982. The natural sex ratio is 104-106 males for every 100 females. The ratio occurs for 1st born infants in China. The sex ratio is disportionately larger for 2nd or greater births. For 5th born children, the sex ratio is 125 boys to 100 girls. The presumption is that couples will accept a 1st daughter and a 2nd child can be maneuvered either legally or illegally. If a son is born first, most couples usually stop. A recent study by 2 Swedish experts and a Chinese demographer found that up to 50% of the 500,000 girls missing each year are adopted informally. The 2nd explanation offered is that daughters are raised by relatives in order to avoid having to pay fines. Infanticide as an option is considered possible and may account for a large number of killings in spite of the small proportion. Support for the explanation of hidden girls shows that the numbers are sometimes greater for 5 years olds than birth figures 5 years ago. Concern is raised about the use of ultrasound in determining the sex of the fetus. Since 1987, doctors are legally forbidden to inform patients of the sex of the fetus, but it is also recognized that the law is violated.