A project proposal by Women's Equality Educators  
    

 
 
 


 

Statistics

Country
 Sex Ratio (male(s)/female)
Canada
 at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
China
 at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
France at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Hong Kong at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Japan at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
United States at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
World at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

*Statistical information comes from CIA - the World Fact Book
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2018.html

Social Impact of Gender Inequality

The focus of the project which we are going to propose is on e-education, particularly in educating the China population about gender equality, an effort to increase women’s status in the rural areas of China.

The longstanding mentality of son preference has stemmed from a myriad of factors; the one child policy is just one of the factors that have had the biggest influence on this issue. This son preference mindset has led to a lot of social problems, causing great gender inequality in the Chinese society. The goal of our project is to educate both men and women about the importance of gender equality and human rights, trying to alleviate the unbalanced population, as well as the widespread sexual discrimination. We hope to achieve this goal by the construction of educational centres with ICT equipments.

The specific area which we hope to implement our project would be Anhui, because it has a high overall sex ratio, which was 1.18 male births per female birth (Graham, 1998). This unbalanced of population will definitely intensify the discrimination against girls. Our proposed project will be geared towards changing this son preference trend.

“A woman’s exposure to the larger world beyond the village increases her chances of giving birth with the assistance of a doctor” (Li, 2003). This point mentioned in Li’s study of gender inequality in rural China has implied the importance of knowledge of the ‘larger world’ to a women’s well-being. This study done by Li has pointed out the unfair treatment to women, especially in maternal care. Exposing the population in rural China to the outside world would certainly help in changing their incorrect attitudes towards women.

In an article by Yardley, he noted the frightening fact that China has one of the world’s worst cases of missing girls. The Chinese government has largely ignored the problem until recently. This problem has indirectly stemmed from the son preference mentality that has embedded so deeply within the Chinese people’s mind.? Our proposed project would be an important first step to deal with this problem.

Plafker has brought out another social problem caused by gender inequality is the emergence of a “bride market”. Young women are kidnapped and sold into forced marriages in areas that lack women. This inhumane treatment to women is unacceptable, and to tackle this problem, we need to solve the root cause of this “bride market” – the lack of women in Chinese societies. Hopefully, our education centres would instil a more equal view between males and females.

In an article by Chu, he demonstrates the three reasons of rising sex ratio at birth in China. That is, the increasing underreporting of female births, excess female infant mortality and increasing incidence of prenatal sex determination and sex-selective abortion of female fetuses. Due to the one-child policy and the traditional sex preference of boys, most of the parents in rural China ensure the one child they have is boy. It is a pressing issue for us to stop this trend, which displays a great need for our project.

In conclusion, the problem of son preference and females discrimination is very serious in China, especially in the rural areas. By putting our project in place, some of these unfair treatment and incorrect mentality will be alleviated.

References

Plafker, T. (2002). Sex selection in China sees 117 boys born for every 100 girls. British Medical Journal. 324, 1233. PDF

Li, J. (2003). Gender inequality、family planning、and maternal and child care in a rural Chinese county. Social Science & Medicine, 59, 695-708. PDF

Yardley, J. (2005). China starts to give girls their due. New York Times Upfront, 137, 8-9. PDF

Graham, M. J., Larsen, U., Xu, X. (1998). Son preference in Anhui Province, China. International Family Planning Perspecitives, 23, 72-77. PDF

Chu, J. (2001). Prenatal sex determination and sex-selective abortion in rural central China. Population and Development review, 27, 259-281. PDF