29th October 2024 – (Beijing) A viral post on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu has sparked widespread discussion about unsolicited phone calls from supposed government workers inquiring about women’s family planning and pregnancy status. The post, which has garnered over 11,000 likes and countless comments, reflects a growing trend of similar experiences among Chinese women.
One user, known as Guo Guo, recounted a particularly invasive call where she was asked when she planned to conceive a third child. Despite her shock, Guo explained that she was too busy with work, to which the caller suggested, “You can get pregnant first. If your mother-in-law can’t take care of (your children), you can ask your mum.”
The phenomenon, dubbed “fertility call checks,” has also become a trending topic on the Sina Weibo microblogging site, where users have questioned the appropriateness of such inquiries. “Things are getting desperate,” one Weibo user commented, drawing hundreds of likes. “I can’t see how effective this type of interrogation will be in the long run. How will it contribute to population numbers?” Another user remarked, “This is even weirder than scam calls.”
According to an 28th October report from the South China Morning Post, these calls are part of a vigorous campaign organised by grassroots government workers aimed at understanding why many women are hesitant to have more children. The central government hopes to gather data on marriage and childbirth statistics, which will be entered into a central monitoring system.
The campaign also includes offering birth registration services, free pregnancy tests, and other reproductive services. This month, China’s Population and Development Research Centre announced a nationwide survey targeting women of child-bearing age, designed to gather insights on marriage, fertility, and the challenges families face in parenting.
China’s demographic situation is increasingly concerning, with annual birth rates continuing to decline to record lows. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that new births have nearly halved from approximately 17 million in 2014 to just 9 million in 2023. In response, state measures are being implemented to encourage births and support young families, while the State Council has called for a cultural shift towards respecting childbearing and shared parental responsibilities.