Using the data from a survey of deaths of children aged under 5 years old
conducted in 1997 in a county in Shaanxi province, China, this paper examines gender
differences in child survival in rural China. We begin by describing excess female child
mortality in the county in 1994-96. We then move on to analyse the mechanisms whereby the
excess mortality takes place, and the underlying social, economic and cultural factors behind
it. We argue that the excess mortality of girls is caused fundamentally by the strong son
preference in traditional Chinese culture, but is exacerbated by the government-guided family
planning program and regulations. This suggests that it is crucial to raise the status of girls
within the family and community, so as to mitigate the pressures to discriminate against girls
under China’s low fertility. Finally, we discuss the possible policy options to counter these
pressures and in turn to improve female child survival in rural China.