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RN Documentary: The Music of Lutes and Harps

From: Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Length: 00:29:30

The first generation of children born under China?s one-child policy have reached adulthood and have their own, new views of family life. Read the full description.
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Piece Description

In the post-Mao era, Chinese family life has once again undergone radical change. The one-child policy has created a generation of young people without siblings, who have college educations and money to spend. Some of them will not be able to find partners because the one-child policy, combined with reproductive technology and the traditional preference for sons, has resulted in a sex ratio imbalance of 120 boys to every 100 girls. However, in the cities, the young educated professionals have different worries: finding a job, getting a good education and paying for an apartment. Many have close warm relations with their parents and grandparents, and the age-old principle of filial piety is still strong, though for different reasons. These children will have to take care of their parents in old age. Their rural counterparts are often part of a vast floating population of migrant laborers who are split from their spouses and families. There is a growing acceptance of divorce and of singlehood. New types of relationships and networks are taking the place of some of the old family bonds.

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Review of RN Documentary: The Music of Lutes and Harps

Great subject for a story on the impact China's one-child policy has had on life and social norms of the families.

Vignettes of now-grown children of this policy are powerful -- at times melancholy, at time humorous. Which just underscores the fact that this policy cannot be judged as a negative or a positive.

There were statements made by the narrator/reporter which I wished were fleshed out a bit. Such as how the policy has impacted design of cars, divorce and filial piety. She does go into great detail on the latter two but makes it seem that these are inherent in only-child households/families. They are not.

Filial piety is part of the Chinese culture and tradition, regardless of the number of children.

I am impressed that the reporter/producer included such a wide range of voices, particularly on such a touchy subject for many Asians.

Transcript

CHINA FAMILY DOCO
Broadcast Wed+Fri+Sun, August 23+25+26, 2006
Production number: 1007573

MUSIC: Tibetan Prayer (album Asian Meditation, C.235.685), comp. Hartung, AVC.INC, 260110-2, (2?30?)

COLLAGE: Wilbur 8: I don?t have siblings?whole family. (11?)
Lucy 14: I have no plan to be a mother, because it?s such a big
responsibility (6?)
Jenny 6: Without a child, I wont be happy, and my parents won??t
be happy ( 7?)
Josh 10: Consumerism and materialism is changing the value of
the family. (4?)
Melody 5: The two most important documents in today?s China, if
you want to travel in China, one is the single or marriage certificate,
the other is the family plng book, esp for women (12?)

Radio N...
Read the full transcript

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Tibetan Prayer un known unknown. AVC.INC, 260110-2 04:00

Related Website

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/documentaries/060823doc