How did the one-child policy contribute to the abandonment of female babies?

The one-child policy contributed to the abandonment of female babies primarily due to a deep-seated cultural preference for sons. In Chinese society, particularly in rural areas, sons were traditionally valued because they inherited the family name and property and were responsible for the care of elderly parents.12

When the government restricted most families to a single child, having a daughter became viewed as highly undesirable for those seeking to secure their family lineage and future support. This pressure led to several tragic outcomes:2

• Sex-selective practices: The availability of ultrasound technology allowed for the identification of a fetus's sex, leading to a rise in the abortion of female fetuses.12
• Abandonment and institutionalization: For families who had a daughter, the policy created an environment where many female infants were abandoned or placed in orphanages.12
• Infanticide: In extreme cases, the preference for male children resulted in the infanticide of baby girls.2

These practices were a direct consequence of the government's strict population control measures clashing with traditional social expectations.12