Behind the Silence

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. Through his investigation of public silence, official standpoints, forgotten controversies from the imperial era, popular opinions, women's personal stories, doctors' narratives, and the problem of coerced abortion, Nie Jing-Bao brings to light a surprising range of beliefs concerning fetal life and the morality of abortion, yet finds overall an acceptance of national population policies. China's internal plurality, the author argues, must be taken seriously if the West is to open a fruitful cross-cultural dialogue.

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.

Chapter 1 Foreword
Chapter 2 Introduction
Chapter 3 Listening to the Silence: The Absence of Public Debate and Its Meaning
Chapter 4 'Instructions' from Above: Official Positions
Chapter 5 The Forgotten Controversies: Heritage of Imperial Times
Chapter 6 Tidings from the Populace: Consensus and Contention in the Survey Results
Chapter 7 Bitterness beyond Words: Women's Narratives
Chapter 8 Fulfilling Discordant Duties: Doctors' Narratives
Chapter 8 An Inquiry into Coerced Abortion: Sociocultural and Ethical Issues
Chapter 9 The Challenge of Cross-Cultural Dialogue: Taking Seriously China's Internal Plu
Chapter 10 Appendix: The Pilot Study, the Survey, and the Interviews
Chapter 12 References
Chapter 13 Acknowledgements