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China faces growing sex imbalance | China faces growing sex imbalance |
(about 1 hour later) | |
More than 24 million Chinese men of marrying age could find themselves without spouses by 2020, says the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. | More than 24 million Chinese men of marrying age could find themselves without spouses by 2020, says the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. |
The gender imbalance among newborns is the most serious demographic problem for the country's population of 1.3 billion, says the academy. | The gender imbalance among newborns is the most serious demographic problem for the country's population of 1.3 billion, says the academy. |
It cites sex-specific abortions as a major factor, due to China's traditional bias towards male children. | It cites sex-specific abortions as a major factor, due to China's traditional bias towards male children. |
The academy says gender selection abortions are "extremely common". | The academy says gender selection abortions are "extremely common". |
This is especially true in rural areas, and ultra-sound scans, first introduced in the late 1980s, have increased the practice. | This is especially true in rural areas, and ultra-sound scans, first introduced in the late 1980s, have increased the practice. |
Forced prostitution | |
The latest figures show that for every 100 girls born in China, 119 boys are born, the academy says in a new book. | The latest figures show that for every 100 girls born in China, 119 boys are born, the academy says in a new book. |
Researcher Wang Guangzhou, quoted by the Global Times newspaper, said the implications were that men in poorer parts of China may remain single throughout their life. | |
"The chance of getting married will be rare if a man is more than 40-years-old in the countryside. They will be more dependent on social security as they age and have fewer household resources to rely on," he said. | |
A reluctance among young urban Chinese to have a first or second child is exacerbating the problem. | A reluctance among young urban Chinese to have a first or second child is exacerbating the problem. |
In some provinces, 130 boys are born for each 100 girls. | In some provinces, 130 boys are born for each 100 girls. |
The growing imbalance means that forced prostitution and human trafficking has become "rampant" in some parts of the country, according to the researchers. |