Social Constructions Of Only Children In The 2000's

Last but definitely not the least. A summation of the social stigma around only children within the 2000’s onwards is investigated, and whether or not this stigma is still attached to only children. This chapter places an emphasis on both the possible continuing and changing notions around only children, and delving into the social constructions of only children into a more recent time period. Therefore, an emphasis on the similarities and differences between the two time periods will be present, as well as exploring China’s one-child policy, in relation to the cross-cultural component of western and non-western cultures. The western social constructions of only children from the 2000’s onwards has resulted in a slight change in comparison

The noticeable similarities between the two generations included a common upbringing in which individuals at some points in their micro lives felt notions of loneliness, responsibility or independence, as well has similar experiences from the interaction and socialisation with friends and family. Secondary research claims to suggest that only children are always experiencing times of loneliness. Whilst technologies as well as the media may over-exaggerate the notion of only child being lonely or isolated, a few individuals such as participants from the focus group agreed that there were times during their upbringing that they felt lonely or isolated. One generation Z participant commented, ‘at some points I could definitely say I felt alone, like my friends had all their siblings, and somewhere inside I kinda yearned to know what that feeling would be like, but that isn’t a constant thing that I need.’ Other responses from generation Z participants in the focus group were of similar nature, and it could be concluded that an only child may inevitably feel lonely at some point, especially for a generation Z adolescent. In contrast, an interview with a Generation Y participant stated ‘I always played team sport so maybe that was a way that my parents encouraged that ‘team feeling’. My mum played netball and so did I, so because it’s

This policy’s intention was to reduce the population of China considerably, by only allowing one child per family, yet this policy not only has resulted in social changes, but the identities of the single children have been vastly influenced, compared to single children in western culture’s. With over 90% of Chinese children being an only child, this has significantly contributed to their micro socialisation processes, due to their interactions predominantly being with other only-children. Moreover, the interview with a generation Y participant states, ‘I think it’s the fact that western culture’s, there’s a choice whereas in Asian countries such as China it is dictated more to them, therefore influences the perception.’ Due to China’s one child policy being enforced, it can be noted that the expectations of a non-western only child are raised higher, compared to a western only child that may have ‘looser’ micro and meso expectations from families. In sequence, the effect of China’s one child policy has resulted in the rise of non-western children with ‘Little Emperor Syndrome’, ‘a generation of pampered and entitled children who believe they sit at the center of the social universe because that’s exactly how they’ve been treated’. This can be regarded as an oddity, due to the perception that many