Gendercide

In order to be able to understand the turmoil of China and its missing women, one must first learn the terms "gendercide", and "female infanticide". The general meaning is the direct and intentional killing of baby girls, due to a preference for male babies. This is also directly linked to prenatal sex-selection, sex-selective abortions, female abandonment, and trafficking of women (which I will further explain in later posts).

It is commonly a forced practice, meaning that many Chinese women are somewhat, if not completely, deprived of both their human and reproductive rights. It is normally expected from husbands that women bear a son, in order to continue the wealth and prosperity of the family. If, however, a woman bears a female child, it is often predetermined that the fetus will have to be destroyed or later abandoned. This is often without her consent.There are, however, some women who willingly abandon or allow the killing of their female babies, because they are deemed useless by society and the family.

An abandoned baby girl found among rubbish in a public park.

Because of this issue, there is now an irreversible gender imbalance within the whole of China. It is estimated that there are approximately 111 baby boys born for every 100 baby girls. In some less populated areas of China, including rural or farming areas, the statistics tend to be even more imbalanced. It is currently estimated that there are approximately 25 million Chinese men who can not find wives.