Document Detail


Limits of state intervention in sex-selective abortion: the case of China.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19657805     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Sex-selective abortion is the major direct cause of the severe imbalance in the sex ratio at birth - contributing to the phenomenon of over 100 million 'missing' females worldwide and 40 million in China alone. Internationally as well as in China, moral condemnation and legal prohibition constitute the mainstream and official position on sex-selective abortion. This paper characterises the dominant Chinese approach to the issue as state-centred and coercion-oriented. Drawing upon case study material, the paper discusses eight major problems arising from coercive state intervention in sex-selective abortion: neglect of reproductive liberty and reproductive rights; the hidden dangers of state power; inconsistency with existing abortion policies; practical ineffectiveness; underestimating the costs and resistance involved; simplifying and misrepresenting the key issues; the lack of sufficient public discussion; and ignoring the moral and political principles established by traditional Chinese thought. To avoid a solution that is worse than the problem itself, alternative social programmes that are focused on women, community-oriented and voluntary in nature need to be developed.
Authors:
Jing-Bao Nie
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Culture, health & sexuality     Volume:  12     ISSN:  1464-5351     ISO Abbreviation:  Cult Health Sex     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-04-14     Completed Date:  2010-07-14     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100883416     Medline TA:  Cult Health Sex     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  205-19     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. jing-bao.nie@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Abortion, Induced* / ethics,  legislation & jurisprudence
China
Coercion
Female
Government Regulation*
Humans
Pregnancy
Sex Distribution
Women's Rights

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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