AP Comparative Government China Practice Test – AP COGO Prep, Study Guide & Practice Exam

The One-Child Policy, implemented in 1979, aimed to control population growth in China and had significant social implications. Among its most notable consequences was the unusual gender balance in the population, primarily due to a cultural preference for male children. This preference led many families to engage in sex-selective abortions and infanticide, resulting in a significant demographic imbalance where the number of males greatly exceeded that of females.

Additionally, this skewed gender ratio created social complications, including a shortage of marriageable women, which exacerbated the trafficking and selling of women in some regions of China. The combination of these factors contributed to various societal issues, such as increased competition for partners among men and associated social unrest.

While aspects like higher population density, resistance in urban areas, and higher rates of multiple births are relevant issues within the broader context of population dynamics, they do not precisely capture the unique demographic challenges directly arising from the One-Child Policy as effectively as the significant gender imbalance and its social ramifications.