By Sarah Elliott
For many Chinese women, keeping a daughter is a battle—and the stakes are unthinkably high.
A Chinese woman may not become pregnant without the government’s permission. Under China’s One-Child Policy, all couples must apply for a birth permit before starting a pregnancy. Nearly two-thirds of Chinese couples (more than 900 million people) may have only one child and will be issued only one birth permit in their lives. Pregnancy without a permit is illegal.
By Sarah Elliott<\/em><\/p>\n For many Chinese women, keeping a daughter is a battle\u2014and the stakes are unthinkably high.<\/p>\n A Chinese woman may not become pregnant without the government\u2019s permission. Under China\u2019s One-Child Policy, all couples must apply for a birth permit before starting a pregnancy. Nearly two-thirds of Chinese couples (more than 900 million people) may have only one child and will be issued only one birth permit in their lives. Pregnancy without a permit is illegal.