Reproductive experiences of women with unapproved birth under one child policy in G city in China

Abstract: In China, after implementing the family planning policy in 1979, a huge group of women with unapproved birth were formed. However, the academic research on them are very limited. For women with unapproved birth, sacrificed the most under this “magical” that eliminated hundreds of millions of people in China, but their reproductive practices and experiences are being neglected and ignored. Focusing on the reproductive experiences of women with unapproved birth under the one child policy, this thesis uses a qualitative method and conducts 10 interviews with women with unapproved children. Their reproductive experiences show that the one child policy hugely shaped their reproductive life psychologically, physically, socially and economically. Their experiences also illustrate the delicate dynamic between the state and people. In the local level, the silent majority was not passively accepting and internalizing the state power invading in their private life. Their willingness and desire inspired wisdom to help them take back control of their private life. In addition, due to family planning policy, the traditional mechanism that women’s reproductive behavior was decided within extended family collapsed. It did bring a certain autonomy on reproduction to women, the autonomy of having fewer children. And with education on the modern reproductive knowledge and birth control measures, it helped separated sex and reproduction, the importance of intimacy and affection has risen for women. Nuclear family becomes more and more important and the self-awareness is strengthening.