Shanghai Daily | 上海日报 -- English Window to China News

THREE decades after the launch of China's one-child policy, the results are testimony to its success on many fronts. The question remains, however: Did it also produce a generation of spoiled brats? Chen Qianqing reports.

They are called the "me" generation and are often accused of being too self-centered. They prefer to say "I fired my boss" when quitting a job. They are China's "single-child tribe," product of the country's one-child policy.

Thirty years ago, in 1978, the Chinese government unveiled the policy, to control the nation's increasing population and help boost economic development.

Now, three decades later, clearly the policy has worked - dramatically. It is estimated that thanks to the policy there are 300 to 400 million people fewer than there would have been without it.

More importantly, the decrease in birth rate has also greatly improved living standards for people in areas such as medical, public service, environment and the economy.

But along with the benefits have also come concerns, mostly over the so-called "little princes and princesses" syndrome.

"They (single children) have so many people around caring for them - parents, grandparents. They are the 'centerpiece' in the family," says Chen Xue, who was born in 1975 and has a younger brother.

"But I don't envy them. I know I would have been rather lonely if I didn't have a sibling. Nor would I be who I am now. I doubt whether these kids ever understand sisterhood and brotherhood and the meaning of sharing," she says.

The only-child generation is often viewed as "spoiled, selfish, irresponsible and rebellious." Many say they lack independence because they receive too much care and carry the responsibility of too much hope from their family.

Many old people tend to follow Chinese traditions that the more they give, the happier their children will be.

"Back then I thought having two children made me feel more secure about getting provided for when I got older and I still think so," says Chen's mother. "Plus, leaving not one but two children at home when I was at work was easier because at least they had each other. If anything came up, they could deal with it together."

Only children are rarely left home alone. Not only is it dangerous, but it can also cause depression through loneliness.

Wang Wenyu, a Shanghai third-grader, says: "Every summer vacation I spend the day alone. I wish I could have a playmate at home with me."

His mother is trying to solve the problem by putting him into some kind of class like an English summer camp, so that the little boy can play and study with friends.

"The biggest problem is that an only child does not have a companion of his or her age while a non-single child has one or even more. This lack of fraternity may also lead to the lack of self-confidence and the sense of competition because they have no one to compare," says Gu Xiaoming, professor from the History Department of Fudan University.

But nowadays schools can help a lot, he adds. "The teaching methods have changed. Schools emphasize more on teaching students how to share with others. Classmates become companions and at boarding schools, students from different grades live together just like brothers and sisters. The only-child influence is not as great as it was thought," Professor Gu says.

Parents, surely, are also aware of the impact.

Wang Wei, a sophomore majoring in electronic engineering at Fudan University, says his parents are gradually changing their way too.

"Of course they care about me very much, but they never push me really hard. Instead they leave me space to choose what I want to do for my future," he says.

But when it came to education, his mother weighed in. "We did give him some guidance. For example, we suggested he go to a university that is far away from our hometown, Tianjin, to make him more independent. Our ultimate goal is to help him grow as a person," she says.

The truth is, perhaps there is more to the only-child generation than meets the eye. Take a look at the ongoing exhibition at Shanghai's Xuhui District Library, for example.

The exhibition mainly presents old files and records of elite Chinese single children, like NBA basketball star Yao Ming, earthquake relief heroes, and people involved in the Beijing Olympics.

Experts say the exhibition shows the world that the once so-called "beat-up generation" now stand straight, embracing a bright future.

While worries about these single children ease, there are still some problems. With the first batch of the only-child generation reaching an age where they are starting their own family, China's typical family has changed from the traditional pyramid shape to 4-2-1 format.

It means the country is getting older with estimations that by 2030, half of Shanghai's population will be over 65. One adult child will have to take care of his or her two parents and four grandparents.

Although Shanghai has lifted the restriction by allowing a young family comprising two single children to have a second child, not many young couples seem to be attracted to the idea.

Zhou Yi, a 27-year-old accountant, is a typical case of one of the "two" in a 4-2-1 family. "We are not prepared for another child," she says. "It's tough to even raise one. We don't have the time, energy or money anyway."

Professor Gu, however, sees it differently. "Whether these young couples want one, two or even no child is nothing more than a choice. The influence brought by the pressure on the 'one' in a four-two-one family actually varies from person to person," he says.

"I believe China definitely has the power and resources to provide help and support for the old, and pressure on the main labor force will also be alleviated. After all, it's a life circle," he says.

Only-child exhibition

THE "Only-Child Growth Trail" exhibition at Xuhui District Library (80 Nandan Rd E.) presents the records and files of members of the single-child generation from 1978 to 2007.

All the exhibits, based on information provided by the Xuhui District Archives Bureau and the Population and Family Planning Commission of Xuhui District, took five years to collect.

Pictures, objects and records that reflect the growing steps of only children are on display.

"The only-child generation was born with significant social concern. They grew up in the era of reform and opening-up. Every step they took left tracks of this era," says Wu Chen, director of Shanghai Archives, at the opening ceremony.

Records of NBA basketball player Yao Ming and the earthquake disaster relief heroes are among the most visited. Some rare stories of Yao are released for the first time.

One of his childhood pictures, which even he does not have in his possession, helps show what the basketball superstar was like in kindergarten.

The exhibition runs free of charge through Sunday.