TED Talks Daily What it was like to grow up under China's one-child policy | Nanfu Wang
Jul 31, 2019
Nanfu Wang, a TED Fellow and acclaimed documentary filmmaker, delves into her experiences under China's one-child policy. She shares poignant personal stories and explores the emotional fallout for families. Wang discusses the psychological challenges and societal implications of the policy, revealing the deep-seated effects it had on individual lives. She also highlights the powerful role of propaganda in shaping public perception, providing a compelling lens on a complex chapter of modern Chinese history.
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A Name's Meaning
- Nanfu Wang's family, hoping for a son, named her Nanfu, meaning "man pillar."
- Despite being a girl, they kept the name, reflecting cultural preference for sons.
Family Resistance
- Born six years before China's one-child policy, Wang's mother was pressured to sterilize after her birth.
- Her grandfather's intervention allowed a second child (a son) after five years and a fine.
The Midwife's Story
- Wang interviewed a midwife who delivered babies in her village, including Wang herself.
- The midwife revealed performing 60,000 forced abortions and sterilizations, sometimes killing surviving babies.