Shidu (parents)

Shidu (Chinese: 失独; pinyin: shīdú) is a phenomenon denoting the loss of a parent's only child. The parents who have lost their only child are known as shidu fumu (失独父母) in China.[1]

As a result of the one-child policy, the number of shidu parents is expected to increase in China over the coming years.[2][3] According to figures from the Ministry of Health, there have been at least one million families who lost their only child since the implementation of the one-child policy to the end of 2010 and it is expected to rise with 76.000 per year.[4] In a society where parents rely on their children for looking after them in old age, this phenomenon may have devastating effects to many shidu parents.[2][3] Many shidu parents suffer from psychological problems and financial difficulties after losing their only child.[5]

Notable people, such as Nobel laureate Mo Yan, have spoken out for more support to those who have lost their only child.[4] In 2002, the National People's Congress put into law that local governments must "provide necessary assistance" to shidu parents if they do not adopt or give birth to another child.[3] In 2007, the central government set a monthly compensation of minimum $16 per parent in ten provinces and cities.[3] Since a 2012 policy, families were entitled to a monthly compensation of minimum 135 yuan ($22) per parent.[2] On 26 December 2013, the National Health and Family Planning Commission increased the monthly compensation for urban households to a minimum of 340 yuan ($56) per parent and for rural households to a minimum of 170 yuan ($28) per parent, applicable if the woman is at least 49 years old.[2] The actual amount of compensation may also be higher depending on provincial and local policies.[3][2]

Incidents like the 2008 Sichuan earthquake,[6] Boston Marathon bombings[6] or the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappearance[5] have highlighted the tremendous impact that this phenomenon has.

In May 2010, the 60-year-old shidu parent Sheng Hailin became China's oldest person to give birth, namely to twin girls through IVF.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Li, Qian (20 December 2013). "Despair turns to joy for a mother at 60". Shanghai Daily.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Li, Grace (27 December 2013). "China's lonely parents tell of loss of only children as family holiday nears". Reuters.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Bao, Beibei (9 May 2013). "Shidu: When Chinese Parents Forced to Have One Child Lose That Child". The Atlantic.
  4. 1 2 "Mo Yan urges to help bereaved one-child parents". China.org.cn. 7 March 2014.
  5. 1 2 Phillips, Tom (25 March 2014). "Malaysia Airlines missing flight exposes tragedy of China's 'orphaned' one-child parents". The Telegraph.
  6. 1 2 Morison, Katie (2 May 2013). "Grieving Chinese reach out after their 1 allowed child dies". MSN News.
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