THE HISTORY

The history of China’s population growth begins prior to the 1970’s. As Susan Greenhalgh (2003) states in her article “Science, Modernity, and the Making of China’s One-Child Policy” there is more behind the one-child policy than just population growth, “CHINA’S ONE-CHILD-PER-COUPLE POLICY represents an extraordinary attempt to engineer national wealth, power, and global standing by drastically breaking population growth” (p. 163). Representatives in China state that the policy has been successful in decreasing China’s rapid population progression. Yet, many people outside and in China believe that the human rights of many women and men have been violated. John Bongaarts (1985) demonstrates in the article “An Alternative to the One-Child Policy in China” that Mao Zedong employed a strategy which focused births to be spread out and promoted only two children per couple. Yet, when Zedong died in the year of 1976 Deng Xiaoping decided that the policies Zedong promoted were not enough and would push China behind in the knowledge gap. Some of those policies were laws that forced married couples to utilize birth control methods (p. 587). These methods did put a dent in the population growth rate. Yet, leaders still felt as if to reach their goals in innovation they must do more. Bongaarts (1985) goes on to explain that it was not until Chairman Hua Guofeng interjected his opinion, that China would never meet their goals, that the application of the One-Child Policy began to be enforced in 1979 (p. 587). Education and propaganda soon followed. And as always, with application came the problem of enforcement. Bongaarts (1985) describes how there were many types of enforcement and encouragement including: advertisement, fines, abortion, sterilization, and education (p. 587). It was these agendas of enforcement that caused the policy to harm others. People who did not listen to the policy would soon realize that they may have to face mass atrocities. Those who did listen to the policy would see that ahead there were unpleasant decisions that would have to be made.

With these atrocities consequences have also began to plague China. Some of those consequences are in the advertisements of the one-child policy. These advertisements rarely show Chinese girls, but instead show one boy. In the article “Potential Effects of the One-Child Policy on Gender Equality in the People's Republic of China” Lawrence K. Hong (1987) describes important holes in China’s policy, “[p]aramount among the concerns were that the one-child policy could jeopardize old-age security and induce female infanticide” (p. 318). Because it is the men who take care of their parents, girls are often not valued when parents determine their sex (after their birth). This not only has a strong effect on the killing and abandonment of girl babies, but it also has an effect on the population gender disparity. Ellen Keng (1997) states in her article “Population Control through the One-Child Policy in China; Its Effects on Women” that other consequences include, “violence against women” and “coercive and forceful measures used on women in implementing the One-Child Policy” (p. 208). Some of these atrocities include kidnapping, murder, rape, abuse, forced abortion, and forced sterilization. These atrocities have hurt not only the women physically, but also psychologically. These costs have large effects on China and its citizens.

Unfortunately, there are not many places women can turn to after facing such human right violations. Ellen Keng (1996) describes the lack of resources China has for women in her article Population Control through the One-Child Policy in China; Its Effects on Women. Keng outlines the lack of help in the system by stating that:

“[a]lthough sources such as LSIRW and the non-government endorsed Women’s Hot Line exist, their potential for effectiveness could be greatly enhanced if these sources addressed specific issues concerning women. These issues should include governmental enforcement policies of the present laws, instead of superficially declaring principles of equality between women and men” (p. 208).

This lack of resources only states the need for more aid and more help in dealing with these atrocities. More education and programs need to help in repairing the damage that has already caused so many hardships. Education also needs to be spread in order to attempt to put a stop to some of the inhumane acts against both women and children.

MEMORIALIZATION EFFORT

"Transitional justice is a response to systematic or widespread violations of human rights. It seeks
recognition for the victims and to promote possibilities for peace, reconciliation and democracy.
Transitional justice is not a special form of justice but justice adapted to societies transforming
themselves after a period of pervasive human rights abuse. In some cases, these transformations happen suddenly; in others, they may take place over many decades." -ICTJ (2008)

Many techniques can be employed to attempt to restore justice to the victims of human rights violations. Some of these techniques fail, while others help victims restore trust and peace. Each technique should be chosen with care, so that the technique will help instead of hinder the relationship between the persecuted and government.

China's atrocities have hurt many women, children, and families. It is important to remember those whom have been harmed, in order to stop the policies for once and all, and in order to keep them from ever coming again. Memorialization effort is the technique that should be implemented in China. Using a museum that has pictures of victims, buildings, and points to perpetrators and atrocities should be incorporated so that we never forget the harms the policy caused.

Museums have been used as memorialization efforts by many places that have faced abuse. Some used museums to patch up the relationships between the harmed and the government. Others, were reluctant to utilize memorials in museums the correct way. In return, they did not patch the trust of the victims back. Here are two examples of the strengths that can be in a memorialization effort and two examples of the weaknesses that China needs to be aware of.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum

Visit the Site

---

---

Sonnet media (2006) describes Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum in their site "Memory & Justice". Described is how this memorialization effort was created in 1949 as a park, museum, and infrastructures honoring those who were killed by the atomic bomb. People see the whole city as a representation of peace. Kinzo Tange the parks designer stated, "“Peace does not come naturally; instead it has to be sought and obtained.”

Strengths:

• There is enough space to have many stories about the bombing and the victims, in order to not be one sided about the bombing.
• In 1999 a memory of the victims of Korea who died in the park was also put forward.

Weaknesses:

• There has been much debate over the fact that the military role was not discussed. The question is whether or not any of those partially responsibility ever took any responsibility?

When relating this to China we have to ask the questions how large should this museum be, where should it be placed, and who should take responsibility for such atrocities? There should also be many stories incorporated, so that no one feels left out, and every angle of the One-Child Policy is covered.

Terror Háza Múzeum (House of Terror Museum)

Visit the Site

---

---

Sonnet media (2006) describes this memorialization effort as a museum that was created in the same Hungarian building where many were tortured by the Facist Arrow Cross Party. Many of these victims were tortured just for not having coinciding political beliefs as the party.

Strengths:

• The building is the same place where much violence was held, making Hungarians feel like the government was finally shining light on the horrible acts that took place.
• "To a significant extent, memorials made to commemorate mass atrocity today seek not only to remember and mourn victims but also to inspire public commitment to preventing similar atrocities from ever taking place again." (Sonnet Media, 2006).

Weaknesses:

• Because of the incorporation of the political parties some feel like this building is too political and is just for propaganda
• "Over-the-top" and "campy" in the way they depict the happenings that took place.
• The museum is too one-sided, and does not display many views and stories
  
• Many Hungarians claim that the museum does not show any Hungarian responsibility

When relating this museum to China we once again see the importance of not only taking responsibility but also telling many different sides of the story. A new crucial element that we notice is to not use the memorialization effort as propaganda, but instead use it as a sole reminder of justice and peace.


Judy Barsalou (2007) describes the importance of memorialization efforts and the precautions one should take in her article "The Urge to Remember: The Roles of Memorials in Social Reconstruction and Transitional Justice". She states that it is very important to first look at the atrocities in order to know what form the memorial should become. "Memorial projects that encourage survivors to explore contested memories of the past, promote learning and critical thinking, and facilitate ongoing cultural exchange are more likely to advance social reconstruction" (Barsalou, 2007). Therefore, it is crucial to look into the effort, and conduct the effort with respect. It is also important to research past efforts that have had successes and failures in order to complete the memorial with care, and deducing significances correctly. In order to accomplish the results wanted from a memorialization effort in China one must include many people with experience to help in the building process. Some specialists that can aid in a memorialization effort are counselors, artists, and those who specialize in history and justice fields. Utilizing all these angles will help to have a higher chance of success and will make sure that the project is done with appropriateness and precaution.

The best place to incorporate a museum is one where a lot of people will be able to see it. I believe this memorial should be placed in Beijing, in order to honor the people hurt, and teach a large number of people and students the harms the One-Child Policy causes.

ACCOUNTABILITY & VICTIMS EMERGING

In _Transitional Justice in Balance: Comparing Processes, Weighing Efficacy_ Tricia Olsen (2010) demonstrates that, "the more accountability, the greater the improvement in democracy" (p. 139). There is much importance in taking accountability for the wrongs done. When utilizing memorialization efforts it is crucial to show the governments role in the harming of its citizens. It is also important to show the faces of the police and officials who brutalized many people, often without just cause, warrants, or right. Victims tend to feel at peace when perpetrates are shown for what they really are. Deng Xiaoping, Chairman Hua Guofeng, and the many officers and doctors that were involved in the wrongful procedures should be recognized as the perpetrators. The victims should be the women and men who lost their children, women who lost their life, the baby girls who have been abandoned and murdered, the women who have faced acts of violence, those aborted and sterilized without consent, and all of the people harmed from the One-Child Policy. Only then, maybe, victims will feel a since of peace and began to heal.

THEIR STORIES

Xiao Ai Ying

Melissa Chan (2003) exemplifies not only the fear a pregnant women can face in China, but the punishment for becoming pregnant without permission in her news piece “China one child policy: women forced to abort second baby”. In this piece she interviews a woman by the name of Xiao Ai Ying and her husband Luo Yan Qua. Qua describes the events that took place the night his wife was forced to abort her child, “there were many men surrounding my wife. They held her arms behind her back, pushed her head against the door, kicked her stomach, and I don’t know if they were trying to give her a miscarriage”. Chan goes on to describe how the police took Yung, held her against her will, and killed her baby while leaving the fetus in her stomach. Xiao Ai Yung was eight months pregnant when she lost her child. This news piece was able to point out the atrocities happening in China, and the lack of aid for the victims. Just the fact that they are unable to speak out against this, and must hide their faces on film, shows the fear they have over the government.

Gan Yulan

Qiao Long of "The Epoch Times" (2009) reports that on March 23^rd of 2009 Gan Yulan was forced to leave with deputy Wang Xuebing and other corresponding officers. These officers had no proper authorization. She was then given a forced sterilization. It was stated that she had not been able to pay fines for having two children and not having the mandated sterilization required to her by law. She was not given a chance to have people present during the operation, nor was she given the decency of a doctor’s appointment prior. Though the government denied that any part of the operation was without her permission, many bystanders dispute that fact.

Abandoned Unnamed Baby Girl

"Asian Town" (2009) reports how the one child policy effects more than just the mothers sterilized and forced to abort their children. It actually also has an effect on the girl babies born who are often left abandoned to die. In Chinese culture it is customary to want a boy child, for they are the ones who support the parents when they are old. This baby girl, in the image above, was left to freeze to death. She was found dead by a woman passerby. She was never given the chance of a real life. Her picture shows one angle of the consequences of the “one child policy”.