Infant Abandonment and Adoption in China

Abstract

This article reviews the state of knowledge about skewed sex ratios informal adoption of girls and female child abandonment in China and the interrelationships between these 3 issues. Data were obtained from 1995 and 1996 in-depth interviews conducted among 629 families: 392 adopting families and 237 abandoning families. About 85% of abandoning families and 75% of adoptive families came from 1 central province and at least 20 counties in China. Families were located by word of mouth. Adoptions spanned the 1950s to the present. Most of the abandonments occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. Data from Hunan Hebei and Anhui support the link between increased abandonment and strong government birth control. 88% of abandoned children were from rural villages and were not impoverished. Parents were in their mid to late 20s and late 30s. In about 50% of the cases fathers decided to abandon and mothers were aware of it. 90% were girls; 10% were boys. 86% of abandoned children were healthy; 32 had disabilities. Abandonment was related to gender birth order and gender composition of siblings. Most were abandoned in the first 6 months of birth near their birthplace. Only 25% were discovered and punished by authorities. 77% of the 190 adoptions during 1990-96 were female. Many adoptions were arranged by birth parents. Girls were adopted at an earlier age than boys. Adoptive parents were better educated. About 50% of adoptive parents were childless. 33% of adoptive families with birth children received fines. Very few adoptees came from or were abandoned children in orphanages or welfare centers.