Hunan, China- A contentious legal case ignited widespread anger when divorce was sought after six daughters were born in China. A woman, referred to as Xiong, was denied her request to divorce her husband, Ou, by a local court.

Xiong argued that her marriage had failed, but the court maintained she hadn’t met her maternal obligations, consequently rejecting her appeal for a divorce. This ruling followed Xiong’s acknowledgment of feeling physically exhausted from raising their six daughters.

Before marrying Ou in 2015, Xiong was already a mother to four daughters, and they later had twin girls. The responsibility of raising six children had drained her, yet Ou allegedly insisted they should keep trying until they had a son. This caused Xiong to feel reduced to a mere child-bearing vessel.

Six Daughters Spark Divorce Proceedings

Deciding to fight back, Xiong cut off all ties with Ou and their daughters in October 2019, taking refuge with her parents. In June of this year, she submitted a divorce request to a local court, stating her marriage had disintegrated.

The Hunan province judge, Tan Mengsi, sided against Xiong during the trial. Tan accused her of shirking her maternal duties and ruled she failed to prove a broken marriage. As a result, the court dismissed her divorce appeal and ordered her to return home and continue caring for her six daughters.

A Weibo news post about the case

The judgment has since sparked intense backlash on Chinese social media. A Weibo news post about the case has drawn 12,000 comments to date. Many users on Chinese social media were very upset with the judge’s decision, saying that it was sexist and unfair.

The cultural expectation for women to bear male children has a long-standing history in China. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China highlights an imbalanced gender ratio.

There were 723 million men versus 689 million women in 2021. There were also 20 million more men than women in the traditional marriageable age range of 20 to 40.

Divorce Sought After Six Daughters

China has witnessed numerous other high-profile divorce cases, many of which were fueled by cultural norms and the deeply ingrained preference for male children.

These values were even reinforced by the One-Child Policy, which was in effect from 1979 to 2015, leading to an unfortunate number of divorces stemming from the birth of a daughter.

While the phenomenon is not exclusive to China, several standout cases have highlighted this societal issue.

One notable case dates back to 2004, involving a wealthy businessman from Guangdong province. After his wife gave birth to a daughter, he filed for divorce, alleging marital dissatisfaction.

Disappointment over the birth of a girl

Insiders revealed that the true reason was his disappointment over the birth of a girl, as he hoped for a male heir. The case drew national attention and sparked a debate about gender bias in China.

A high-ranking government official in Beijing divorced his wife after she gave birth to their second daughter. His desire for a son was well-known, and the divorce was widely viewed as a direct result of this unfulfilled wish. The case further highlighted the gender preference issue, prompting a public outcry.

A famous movie director’s divorce made headlines due to similar circumstances. Despite their previous 15-year marriage, the birth of their third daughter proved to be the final straw, leading to the dissolution of the marriage.

Violating the One-Child Policy

The director’s overt preference for a son, evidenced by his willingness to pay the hefty fines for violating the One-Child Policy, intensified public criticism.

Another compelling case involved a famous singer in 2015. After a failed attempt to have a son through a surrogate in the United States, the singer divorced his wife upon returning to China.

Their daughter was left in the custody of the mother, causing a media frenzy and sparking discussions about the ethics and legality of sex selection and surrogacy.

These big divorce cases underscore the persistent problem of gender bias in China. Despite legislative efforts to combat gender discrimination, these cases show how deeply ingrained the preference for sons is in Chinese society.

They demonstrate how some people are willing to end marriages, break up families, and suffer public criticism in their quest for a male heir.

These cases have led to substantial societal and legal discussions. They have played a significant role in propelling changes in China’s family planning policies and legal system.

Divorce Sought After Six Daughters

The Chinese government abandoned the One-Child Policy in 2015, replacing it with the Two-Child Policy. In 2021, it further revised it to a Three-Child Policy to balance the skewed gender ratio and address the ageing population.

These divorce cases have catalyzed law reforms. To address these issues, the Chinese legal system has seen an increased emphasis on gender equality and women’s rights. New legislation now offers more protection for women’s rights in divorce proceedings, and there’s a growing trend towards joint child custody.

China’s Gender bias

While these high-profile divorce cases highlight the negative aspects of China’s gender bias, they also serve as catalysts for change. They have generated much-needed conversations about gender equality, influencing legal, societal, and policy reforms.

Although there is still much to be done, these cases are significant steps toward shifting deeply entrenched cultural norms and fostering a more balanced society.

Divorce Sought After Six Daughters Born in Chinese Family

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