Happiness is a key factor for the Chinese culture and is intertwined with the Chinese concept of family. Family has always been very important to the Chinese society, and many aspects of Chinese life are tied to honoring one’s parents. In fact, the majority of the teachings of Confucius, who was an influential Chinese Philosopher, teacher, and political figure known for his popular sayings and for his models of teaching, were directly centered on the family. Due to this focus on the family, it was common for the Chinese, even when fully grown with children of their own, to not only remain in or close to their hometown, but also have many, if not all, living generations of a family living under the same roof.
This article will explore the history of China’s one-child policy, now its two-child policy; why China prefers boys; the family traditions in China and the United States; and, finally, the differences in views of family, what the future look likes for both countries, and what China can learn from the United States and
…show more content…
In the late 1970s China’s population was quickly reaching close to the one-billion mark, and the country’s new leader Deng Xiaoping was beginning to give consideration to change what had become a quick population growth rate. A voluntary program was announced in late 1978 that encouraged families to have no more than two children, one child being preferable. Stricter requirements were then applied across the country among the provinces, which varied by region, and by 1980 the central government sought to standardize the one-child policy across the entirety of China. On September 25, 1980, a public letter published by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party to the party membership called upon all to adhere to the one-child policy, and that date has often been cited as the policy’s official start