We have a country-style song for you today, about one of the consequences of China’s one-child policy: a massive gender imbalance in the country.

The Chinese government imposed the one-child policy in 1979. It has prevented 400 million births and allowed China to limit its population growth much faster than most developing countries.

But the one-child policy has also resulted in gender-selective abortions and female infanticide that have distorted the ratio of male to female births, with 118.1 boys currently born for every 100 girls. The natural ratio of boys to girls at birth is 1.05:1, according to UN figures.

How does this make some young Chinese people feel? Listen to our song.

A Next Media Animation / Chris Davidson collaboration.

LYRICS:

They call me a little emperor of the one Child policy
But stick around and you’ll find what I’ve found it’s not easy to be me
See science made it possible to give birth to only boys
Now everyone wants Y-chromosomes for their little bundle of joy

So there are no girls born, in China any more
I feel so forlorn, with nobody to keep me warm
Confucian culture scorns daughters in favor of sons
So there are no girls born and I’m doomed to be just one

My parents chose me in utero to carry on the family name
But if I can’t find a bride I’ll be carrying nothing but shame
You gotta be tall educated, and own your own house
miss one out of three, you won’t find a spouse

So there are no girls born, in China any more
I feel so forlorn, with nobody to keep me warm
Confucian culture scorns daughters in favor of sons
So there are no girls born and I’m doomed to be just one

You know they say it’s still a man’s world
But Mao says women hold up half the sky
I don’t know if that’s true and I don’t know what to do
but without them I’m so lonely I could cry

cos’ there are no girls born in China any more
I feel so forlorn with nobody to keep me warm
Confucian cultures scorns daughters in favor of sons
So there are no girls born…and I’m doomed to be just one.

No Girls Born (in China Anymore)