China's one child policy: Chinese identity across cultures Open Access

Abstract

A broad overview of the multifaceted political, cultural, and social contexts associated with China’s cornerstone family planning policy, the one child policy, is outlined in this research. This background provides historic grounding for the study of Chinese identity formation among three distinct groups of present day Chinese millennials, the group of greatest academic interest being Chinese adoptees due to their displacement from China during the decades that the one child policy was in place. This study further examines the relationship between Chinese millennials’ self-perceived ethnic and cultural identities and their self-reported degree of ethno-cultural identity conflict. Chinese adoptees (n=48), American born Chinese (n=21), and Chinese international students (n=18) all completed measures of ethno-cultural identity conflict and demographic information generated through a single setting online survey. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant difference in ethno-cultural identity conflict scores reported by the respective groups. This analysis supported the hypothesized score differences by reflecting the Chinese adoptee group as displaying the greatest degree of ethno- cultural conflict and the Chinese international students as displaying the smallest degree of conflict. A chi-square test was run to determine that all three groups displayed ethnicity-culture identity statuses that were significantly different. Finally, various comparisons of ethnic and cultural identity between Chinese adoptees, American born Chinese, and Chinese international students with respect to family members, friends, and significant others were made to capture the distinct ethnic and cultural similarities and differences unique to the personal relationships made by members within each respective group. 

Table of Contents

Distribution Agreement...............................................................................1

Title Page......................................................................................................2

Abstract.........................................................................................................4

Introduction Page.........................................................................................5

Acknowledgements.......................................................................................6

Table of Contents..........................................................................................8

Chapter One: Background on China’s one child policy, intercountry

adoption, and Chinese identity beyond the border.....................................10

Synthesis of China’s one child policy and intercountry adoption...............10

Introduction of intercountry adoption to the West.....................................12

Political overview of China’s Reform Era and family planning campaigns .13

The aftermath of multiple births ................................................................14

Chapter Two: China’s one child policy- context, evolution, and

consequences ..............................................................................................18

Context of China’s one child policy .............................................................18

Evolution of China’s one child policy ..........................................................27

Consequences of China’s one child policy ...................................................32

Chapter Three: Ethnic identity development within a multi-cultural

context .........................................................................................................40

Foundations of ethnic identity formation ....................................................40

Foundations of cultural identity formation ..................................................42

Convergence of ethnic and cultural identity formation ................................44

Emergence of ethnic and cultural identity conflict .......................................45

Chapter Four: Methodology, data, and results ..............................................47

Methodology- overview .................................................................................47

Methodology- participants ............................................................................47

Methodology- participant survey administration ..........................................48

Methodology- participant survey layout ........................................................49

Data- demographic data .................................................................................50

Results ............................................................................................................62

Chapter Five: Discussion, limitations, and future implications ......................69

Discussion .......................................................................................................69

Limitations ......................................................................................................72

Future Implications .........................................................................................75

Appendix A: Participant Survey .......................................................................80

Appendix B: Ethno-Cultural Identity Conflict Scale (Ward, Stuart, Kus, 2011) 95

Appendix C: Participant Recruitment Email Template- First Attempt at

Contact..............................................................................................................96

Appendix D: Participant Recruitment Email Template- Second Attempt at

Contact .............................................................................................................96

Appendix E: Informed Consent ........................................................................97

Appendix F: Citi Certification Completion Certificate .....................................99

Appendix G: CITI Certification Completion Report ........................................101

References .......................................................................................................103 

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Chinese Studies
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Social Asian American Studies Asian Studies
Keyword	American born Chinese Chinese identity identity formation intercountry adoption cultural identity ethnic identity Chinese international students Chinese adoptees
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. Hsu-Te Cheng, Emory University
Committee Members	Dr. Maria Franca Sibau, Emory University Dr. Jessica M. Barber, Emory University

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