Wifeless future for China's men (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By James Reynolds
BBC News, Beijing

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Since the late 1970s Chinese couples have been allowed just one child - and most parents here prefer to have a son.

"It's having a real effect," said Ms Zheng, the school's head teacher.

"One of our classes has 39 boys and just eight girls. It's a serious problem. When there are more boys than girls, the girls copy the boys and they become more aggressive," she said.
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An official estimate says that, by 2020, there may be 30 million men of marriageable age who will not be able to find a wife.

The gender imbalance has various causes. Abortions on female foetuses are believed to be widespread as couples, particularly in rural areas, hope for a son who will look after them in their old age. There is also suspected under-reporting of female births.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6346931.stm