The One child policy has altered national attitudes towards
sexuality, according to a new report, Sexual Behavior and
Relationship of Chinese People: 2000–2006, prepared by Renmin
University's Institute for Research on Sexuality and Gender.
The results demonstrated that for many Chinese people, sex was
no longer mainly seen as a method of reproduction, a startling
change which has been labeled as a veritable "sex revolution in
China" by Pan Suiming, the report's leading researcher.
Pan laid the concept change at the door of the one-child policy
that has regulated births in China since the late 1970s. "The first
generation of the 'only children' born after 1980 are now
approaching marriageable age. Most choose to have only one child,
although they are able to have two if they are from one-child
families," explained Pan, adding that only five percent of such
couples wish to have a second child.
"Having sex has become more than just being about reproduction.
This concept is now a firm part of younger generations' mindsets."
said Pan.
The report also found that around 25.3 percent of Chinese people
had more than one sex partner and that sexual behaviors varied
widely. However, the report also noted a remaining taboo regarding
talking about sex.
"Sex is still considered a taboo, but to do a survey is not as
difficult as most people think if you find the key to free talk,"
said Pan.
"We always invited people to an interview room. Nobody will
answer such questions in front of their family, but if the
interviewer is of the same gender as the interviewee, people become
less reticent to talk."
Another successful aspect was electronic surveying which spares
embarrassment for the respondents. The report surveyed 6,010 people
from across the social spectrum about their sex life and other
private matters such as love affairs and sexual orientation.
(China.org.cn by Huang Shan, August 5, 2007)