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Behind the Silence
Chinese Voices on Abortion
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2005
Summary
Behind the Silence is the first in-depth work in any language to explore the diverse perspectives of mainland Chinese regarding induced abortion and fetal life in the context of the world's most ambitious and intrusive family planning program. Bringing to light the range of Chinese views and experiences, Nie Jing-Bao draws on extensive primary sources and intensive fieldwork, including surveys by and interviews with hundreds of rural, urban, and overseas Chinese. Nie's exploration of the multi-layered meanings of public silence, official pronouncements, forgotten controversies from the Imperial era, public and private consensus and disagreement, women's personal stories, and doctors' narratives provides compelling evidence on the remarkably varied, sometimes critical, and often tormented voices of the Chinese people. Revealing a surprising range of beliefs and feelings concerning the morality of abortion and fetal life, the book nevertheless finds widespread acceptance of national population policies. It also examines the personal anguish and complex socio-cultural and ethical issues entwined with coerced abortion essential to enforce birth-control policies. In addition, the author argues, the abortion issue illustrates the importance of taking seriously China's internal plurality if Westerners and Chinese are to develop a fruitful cross-cultural dialogue.
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Bibliographic data
Copyright year
2005
ISBN-Print
978-0-7425-2371-5
ISBN-Online
978-0-7425-7128-0
Publisher
Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham
Language
English
Pages
294
Product type
Book Titles
Table of contents
ChapterPages
Contents No access
Foreword No access
Introduction No access Pages 1 - 12
1 Listening to the Silence The Absence of Public Debate and Its Meaning No access Pages 13 - 38
2 "Instructon" from Above: Official Positions No access Pages 39 - 66
3 The Forgotten Controversies: Heritage of Imperial Times No access Pages 67 - 94
4 Tidings from the Populace: Consensus and Contention in the Survey Results No access Pages 95 - 134
