Geopolitics & Empire
Barbara Demick: Abducted & Adopted, The Story of China’s One-Child Policy
May 10, 2025
Barbara Demick, a seasoned journalist and author, shares her compelling insights from her new book, 'Daughters of the Bamboo Grove.' She discusses the chilling realities of China's one-child policy, including the illegal abduction of children by officials and the devastating effects on families. Demick recounts her arduous journey to reunite twins separated by distance and circumstance. Through personal narratives, she explores the identity struggles of adoptees and the broader implications of social control in both China and America.
52:24
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Quick takeaways
- Barbara Demick highlights the tragic outcomes of China's one-child policy, which led to a significant gender imbalance and familial trauma.
- The evolution of China's adoption practices reveals a dark side, where abducted children were used to meet the demands of international adoption.
Deep dives
Barbara Demick's Journalistic Journey
The speaker discusses Barbara Demick's extensive journalistic career, focusing on her experience in high-conflict regions like North Korea, Tibet, and the Balkans. Demick emphasizes her mission to reveal stories from places often hidden from public view, such as remote villages where many adopted girls were born. Her time living in North Korea and reporting from various locations illustrates the challenges of obtaining truthful information in authoritarian environments. These experiences have shaped her writing style, which aims to provide insights into the harsh realities faced by people in these regions.
