"Today, however, nearly all urban singletons stay in school. The result is nationwide diploma inflation; jobs that a young adult secured only ten years ago with a vocational degree, such as a bank teller, now require four years of college. This is confusing to young adults, says Fong, and it's not any easier on their parents."Along those lines, it sounds like the lifestyle choices of young Europeans (having one or no kids) could be depopulating the continent in the next half-century.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Global Lifestylism
Once in a while, I wonder about how China's One Child Policy has played out. What's it like to grow up with an entire generation that has no siblings? How about in the next generation with no aunts, uncles or cousins? Some of the trends and expectations for 20-something "singletons" in China sound familiar:
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2 comments:
Interesting thoughts Jer! We are currently a family of four and I personally find it hard to imagine to have just one child but I also can't imagine having five children like my parents.
I imagine though that being an only children would affect one's interpersonal skills - perhaps quite negatively! The days of a dozen kids most likely contributed to a better understanding of community which in many ways we now lack and I believe searching for.
I have a youth pastor friend who is in the process of traveling out to China to adopt their second chinese child!
G
Hey Garth, always glad to see your thoughtful comments popping up here.
Tannis works in adoptions, and a significant proportion of her work is related to Canadian adoptions of Chinese girls -- that's one fascinating (and sad, in most ways) result of the one child policy.
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