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It is interesting to see the diversity in peoples attitudes toward birth. My grandparents have five children (excluding one who died soon after birth), a normal figure for those of their age. My father has two children, and his siblings each have only one. I have one child, and my younger brother, who is 32 and has been married for quite a few years, has none. He has no plan to have any for the moment, citing economic reasons and all the trouble of rearing kids. My mom has no objection. Actually she is glad, as she believes my brother and his wife are not family-type people who could give a new life what she deems decent and full-hearted care and teaching. My grandpa worries about having no grandchild, and insists that one needs to receive solace from offspring in old age. But whenever he starts discussing the topic, few in the family, including my aunts and uncles, show any desire to side with him. The debate just cannot continue. But in my husbands family, which is located in a small village in the less developed province of Anhui, having a child, or to be precise, a son, is a big issue. My father-in-law was frustrated that the first four children of his two younger sons (both farmers) were female, so he was relieved when I gave birth to a boy. But at his urging, one of my brothers-in-law finally had a third child, which was fortunately a boy, although it cost him a big fine. When we talked about this during his visit to my home, he felt ashamed of his outdated way of thinking, and absolutely denied his preference for a boy, declaring both girls and boys can grow to be successful people. But in later chats with my mom he said a sonless parent would have nobody to rely on in his or her old age. He has no pension and will completely rely on the support of his children, so he may have a point. One day my ten-year-old son said after a spat between us: if you are not nice to me now, I will leave my child to you when I grow up, so you will have all the trouble of taking care of him.My reply is: I never think about it.

Su Li

Beijing, China

More and more Chinese women today are having children later. As a working mom, I fully understand why. Since the concept of gender equality was introduced and enforced following the founding of the Peoples Republic, remarkable progress has been made. Women now enjoy the same opportunities as men in their careers, and are expected to bring in an income. They also have a strong desire for success. But for career women, having children means they need time and energy for their young, which deprives them of the time for career development, further education and pleasure. Such sacrifice is too great to be overlooked in an age when self-fulfillment is given unprecedented prominence and self-reliance is the key to survival. Some women balk at the idea of bringing a new life into this already highly competitive world, where people are exposed to pressure as early as their kindergarten years.

Zhao Ming

Shanghai, China

Im a student studying at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. I would like to thank you and give my best wishes to your magazine. It provides lots of knowledge about Chinese economics, society and culture. Thanks again for making us so bright.

Chamila Edirisooriya

Sri Lanka

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