Join Lisa Ling as she explores the complex and emotional issues surrounding China's onechild policy

National Geographic host Lisa Ling examines the consequences of China’s two-decade-old, ‘’one child policy’’ designed to curb the country’s exploding population. Due to cultural, social and economic factors, traditional preference leans toward boys, so girls are often hidden, aborted, or abandoned. As a result, tens of thousands of girls end up in orphanages across China. Today, more than one quarter of all babies adopted from abroad by American families come from China—and nearly all are girls. Ling joins some of these families as they travel to China to meet their new daughters for the first time. Along this emotional journey, she shares in the joy of these growing families and also witnesses firsthand China’s gender gap, its roots, and its possible repercussions.

Watch Film

Snag

Running Time: 43 min
plus commercial breaks

Availability: US Only

Snag This Now!

Support

Donate to the National Geographic Society

One of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions, the National Geographic Society's mission is to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge. Today National Geographic inspires people to care about the planet.

The National Geographic Society is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization.

About

If you like this ...

2005 | 43 min

National Geographic host Lisa Ling examines the consequences of China’s two-decade-old, ‘’one child policy’’ designed to curb the country’s exploding population. Due to cultural, social and economic factors, traditional preference leans toward boys, so girls are often hidden, aborted, or abandoned. As a result, tens of thousands of girls end up in orphanages across China. Today, more than one quarter of all babies adopted from abroad by American families come from China—and nearly all are girls. Ling joins some of these families as they travel to China to meet their new daughters for the first time. Along this emotional journey, she shares in the joy of these growing families and also witnesses firsthand China’s gender gap, its roots, and its possible repercussions.

Comments

Posted 08/28/08 by Katie

My parents had three girls — and they were both offended when strangers suggested they keep trying for a boy.

I admire the parents who adopt these girls. Americans still have a way to go for true fairness with respect to gender. But, I’m proud our society is more equally-minded than other cultures and willing to give these girls a home.

Posted 08/27/08 by Traci

I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary. I have heard about the issued in China for decades growing up but this piece beautifully showed it in a very personal way.